TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The US embassy in Baghdad is planning to evacuate some of its staff to anticipate attacks from militants. The staff will be "temporarily relocated" to Amman, Jordan, where they will continue their work. Other staff will be moved to US consulates in Basra in the south and Arbil in the northern Kurdish territories.
However, embassy services will continue despite the evacuation. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki confirmed there would be some staff staying in Baghdad.
Previously, US citizens in Iraq, particularly contractors that train Iraq’s military in the weapon system bought from the US, have been evacuated from the country.
Militants last week rapidly took over Mosul and other cities in the south. They have sworn to take over Baghdad. Volunteers have been flocking to join the military in order to defend the capital.
President Barack Obama said he is considering various actions which include air raid or military assistance for Iraq. Early this year, when insurgents seized Falluja and Anbar in the west, the US government sent weapons, ammunitions and Hellfire missiles to help Iraq.
US forces left Iraq in late 2011, but the US significantly increased its diplomatic presence in the country. They also set up several defense posts to protect US citizens and interests. The US embassy initially had 16,000 staff, but after objection from the Iraqi government, they reduced their staff to around 5,000.
AP | INDAH P
