BAGHDAD: The United States has ordered staff from its diplomatic missions in Iraq and Lebanon to leave the countries, with the departures taking place as American strikes on Sunday targeted nuclear facilities in nearby Iran.
More diplomatic personnel left Iraq on Saturday and Sunday as part of ongoing efforts to 鈥渟treamline operations,鈥� a US official told AFP.
The departures were a continuation of a process that started last week 鈥渙ut of an abundance of caution and due to heightened regional tensions,鈥� the official added.
In Lebanon, the US embassy said the State Department on Sunday had ordered staffers鈥� family members and non-emergency US government personnel to leave the country.
A statement on the embassy website cited 鈥渢he volatile and unpredictable security situation in the region.鈥�
Earlier in the day, Washington joined Israel鈥檚 war against Iran, with US President Donald Trump announcing strikes on the Islamic republic鈥檚 main nuclear sites.
After the strikes, an adviser to Iran鈥檚 supreme leader warned that bases in the region used to launch US attacks 鈥渨ill be considered legitimate targets.鈥�
Fears were also growing over possible intervention by Iran-backed armed factions around the Middle East, who have threatened Washington鈥檚 interests should it join Israel鈥檚 campaign.
Israel has already fought a war in Lebanon with the Tehran-backed militant group Hezbollah, leaving it badly weakened before a ceasefire took hold in November.
On Sunday, Hezbollah said the US strikes revealed 鈥渢he true face of the United States of America as the largest threat to regional and international security and stability.鈥�
The group has not previously expressed any intention to intervene militarily on Iran鈥檚 side, but its chief Naim Qassem said last week that it would 鈥渁ct as we see fit.鈥�
Washington has a 鈥渄o not travel鈥� advisory in place for Lebanon.
Iraq, meanwhile, has for years navigated a delicate balancing act between its allies Tehran and Washington, has also long been a fertile ground for proxy battles.
On Sunday, the Iraqi government expressed 鈥渋ts deep concern and strong condemnation of the targeting of nuclear facilities鈥� in Iran, spokesperson Basim Alawadi said.
鈥淭his military escalation constitutes a grave threat to peace and security in the Middle East and poses serious risks to regional stability,鈥� he added.