US Diplomats to Return to Iraq

The United States has announced the gradual return of its diplomats to Iraq, following a period of heightened tensions with Iran that led to their temporary withdrawal nearly a month ago.

The move signals Washington’s assessment that the threat level in the region has subsided.

While the US State Department did not explicitly outline the reasons behind the decision, such changes in diplomatic staffing typically reflect shifts in security conditions and a lower perceived risk of military escalation.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated that staff who had been temporarily relocated would begin returning to the US Embassy in Baghdad and the Consulate in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan region.

However, Bruce reaffirmed that US citizens are still advised against travelling to Iraq due to ongoing security concerns.

The original withdrawal was prompted by a sharp rise in regional tensions on 22 June, after former US President Donald Trump ordered strikes on nuclear facilities inside Iran, as part of a wider military campaign led by Israel. In response, Iran launched missiles at a key American military base in Qatar.

Despite a recent series of drone attacks targeting oil fields in Iraq’s Kurdish region, the US has opted to ease travel restrictions for its personnel. No group has claimed responsibility for the drone strikes, which occurred amid a political dispute between the Kurdistan Regional Government and Baghdad over oil revenues.

Bruce condemned the drone attacks, calling them a threat to Iraq’s stability and economic future. She stressed that it remains the responsibility of the Iraqi government to protect its territory and all of its citizens.