US orders staff evacuation in Baghdad embassy over 'security threats'
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The agency also raised its travel advice to the highest level, level four, urging US citizens not to travel to Iraq.
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US troops clearing rubble at Ain-al-Assad occupation base in Iraq, on January 13, 2020 (AFP)
The US Department of State on Sunday announced that the US ordered the evacuation of non-essential workers from its embassy in Baghdad due to growing security concerns in the region.
The State Department attributed the move to "increased security threats against US personnel and interests."
The agency also raised its travel advice to the highest level, level four, urging US citizens not to travel to Iraq.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq targeted on Friday US forces in the Iraqi Kurdistan region with two drones, marking the third attack against US forces in the country within a few days. The Resistance also claimed responsibility for targeting the Ain al-Assad base with rockets on Thursday.
The Iraqi Resistance factions had previously pledged that they "will not stand idly by in the face of the ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza."
In another attack, a drone targeted the US occupation Ain al-Assad Air Base. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq released footage showing the type of drone used and released an official statement in confirmation.
According to the statement, the Resistance targeted the base with a drone that reportedly "directly hit its target.”
Later, the same group, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, claimed responsibility for the attack targeting US occupation forces at al-Harir base adjacent to Erbil International Airport with two drones.
These attacks marked the fourth and fifth against the US occupation within the past 72 hours.
Meanwhile, Ain al-Assad was targeted again with rockets on Saturday evening, Reuters said in a report.
Since day one of the launch of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, in response to the Israeli crimes against Palestinians and their holy sites, US President Biden announced "unwavering" support to the entity and immediately signed off on increased military assistance delivered daily.
This measure was a public admission of complicity in all Israeli crimes against civilians in Gaza, which has resulted in the martyrdom of at least 4,700 civilians, most of whom are children, women, and the elderly.
Read more: Gaza's Resistance goes on for 14th day; Hamas reveals tactical details
In response, Iraqi Resistance factions declared that all US bases within reach had become legitimate targets, especially those in Iraq. "We will not stand idly by in the face of the ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza," the factions pledged.
On its part, Sayyed al-Shuhadaa Brigades of Iraq previously warned Washington against any interference in Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.
According to Lebanese news outlet Al-Ahed, the group stressed that "Palestine is not Ukraine" and that any interference or support the US extends to the Israeli entity would make US bases in the region targets for the Resistance.
The Group expressed that any support would be met with retaliation and zero red lines would remain uncrossed.
Yemeni forces have reportedly joined Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, as a US military official told CNN that the US Navy ship USS Carney intercepted four Cruise missiles and 15 drones allegedly launched by the Yemeni Ansar Allah movement.
The official indicated that the interception operation on Thursday lasted nine hours and that the missiles and drones were headed toward Israeli targets.
