Within the practically 10 days because the State Division directed non-emergency authorities workers to depart Iraq amid the conflict with Iran, the U.S. has struggled to take away all personnel impacted by the order from potential hazard, two U.S. officers inform ABC Information.
Officers say U.S. diplomatic missions throughout the Center East got little warning within the run as much as the strikes, and that regardless that circumstances in nations like Iraq rapidly deteriorated to some extent the place an ordered departure for non-emergency personnel can be anticipated, days handed earlier than the orders have been formally issued.
Army flights to take away personnel from Baghdad, the place the U.S. embassy is positioned, have been delayed by a number of days after the order was issued as a result of hazardous safety circumstances, the officers stated.
The US embassy headquarters in Iraq is pictured in Baghdad’s fortified “Inexperienced Zone” on March 8, 2026.
Ahmad Al-Rubaye/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
Diplomatic employees on the American consulate in Erbil have been additionally pressured to shelter-in-place when the power got here below assault from Iran earlier than they have been finally flown in a foreign country by the British Royal Air Power as a result of constraints on the U.S. army, which might usually perform such a mission, in line with the officers.
The U.Ok. Ministry of Protection confirmed to ABC Information that the RAF carried “a variety of US consulate employees and contractors, at their request” from Iraq to Cyprus.
“We can not touch upon particular operational particulars, however as a basic matter, U.S. Mission Iraq continues to implement all wanted steps to make sure the security of our diplomatic personnel and services,” a State Division spokesperson stated.
On the timing of ordered departures, a division official stated selections “are primarily based on real-time safety assessments between Washington” and diplomatic posts.
“On this case, as soon as Embassy Baghdad requested ordered departure, the division authorized that request inside hours as a way to cut back our footprint and shield personnel,” the official stated.
Although closely fortified, American diplomatic services in Iraq have been below near-constant assault from Iran and its proxy militia teams because the U.S. initiated army motion in opposition to Iran on Feb. 28.
A drone was intercepted within the sky close to the previous U.S. consulate and the airport at round 4:30 pm, in Erbil, Northern Iraq, on March 1, 2026.
Pauline Gauer/SIPA by way of Shutterstock
On Wednesday, a serious diplomatic assist facility in Baghdad was hit by a suspected drone assault, in line with one other official, who stated the harm evaluation was ongoing.
“We will affirm the Baghdad Diplomatic Assist Heart was focused by Iran-backed terrorist militias in a single day,” a State Division spokesperson stated. “We stay in shut contact with the Authorities of Iraq concerning steps to guard U.S. personnel and services.”
Three safety guards have been taken to the hospital after the assault, in line with two State Division officers acquainted with the matter.
The guards have been taken to the hospital for medical analysis as a result of their “proximity to the affect websites,” one official stated.
It is unclear whether or not they have been discharged from the hospital.
The diplomatic assist facility is guarded by domestically employed contractors, not direct U.S. authorities hires. All U.S. authorities personnel are believed to be accounted for.
Regardless of repeated urging from the U.S. that the Iraqi authorities step up efforts to defend American pursuits within the nation, officers say the Trump administration has been upset by the response.
