The State Department warned on Friday that Iran-aligned militias in Iraq may be targeting hotels used by foreigners in the Kurdistan region, as the US worked to evacuate thousands of Americans stranded across the Middle East.
The US embassy in Baghdad urged American citizens in Iraq to leave as soon as safely possible, noting that commercial flights were not currently operating out of the country and suggesting overland routes as an alternative.
“Americans choosing not to depart should be prepared to shelter in place in a secure location for extended periods,” the embassy alert said, advising people to stock up on food, water and medications.
President Donald Trump said on Friday the US was moving thousands of people out of countries across the Middle East. “It is being done quietly, but seamlessly,” he wrote in a social media post, without providing further details.
The State Department said later on Friday it was continuing to contact Americans in the region to offer charter flights or ground travel assistance. Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson said several flights had already returned hundreds of Americans to the United States, with more scheduled over the coming days subject to security conditions. A task force had “directly assisted nearly 13,000 Americans abroad, offering security guidance and travel assistance,” Johnson said.
The Trump administration has faced criticism over its planning and initial response to Americans trying to leave the region since US-Israeli strikes began last Saturday, triggering Iranian retaliation and widespread airspace closures.
(Reuters)
