Leave Iraq 'immediately': US tells citizens as tensions flare with Iran

'Due to heightened tensions in Iraq and the region, we urge US citizens to depart Iraq immediately,' the State Department tweeted

AFP

January 03, 2020

A protest in Iraq against the United States

WASHINGTON: The State Department on Friday told US citizens to leave Iraq "immediately," after an American strike killed top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad.

"Due to heightened tensions in Iraq and the region, we urge US citizens to depart Iraq immediately," the State Department tweeted. "Due to Iranian-backed militia attacks at the US Embassy compound, all consular operations are suspended. US citizens should not approach the Embassy."

Tensions in Iraq were already running high after pro-Iranian protesters laid siege the US embassy earlier this week.

The US announced earlier Friday that it had killed the commander of the Iranian Quds Force in a strike on Baghdad´s international airport, which also killed the deputy chief of Iraq´s powerful Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force.

Iran declared a three-day mourning period for Soleimani and warned that 'severe revenge' will be taken against those who killed him, referring to the US.

"Martyrdom was the reward for his ceaseless efforts in all these years," Iran´s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Twitter, declaring three days of mourning.

"With him gone, God willing, his work and his path will not be stopped, but severe revenge awaits the criminals who bloodied their foul hands with his blood and other martyrs´ in last night´s incident."