Washington has issued a shocking order today to US Government employees in Iraq as it urged them to immediately leave the Middle Eastern country. Issuing a statement in the early hours of May 15, the US Government told "non-emergency Government employees" in Iraq to "depart by commercial transportation as soon as possible".
And, referring to the US consulate in Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan region, it added: "Normal visa services at both posts will be temporarily suspended.
"The US Government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Iraq."
This comes after the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, paid a surprise visit to Iraq's capital city, Baghdad, earlier this month.