Panic in Baghdad? U.S. Orders Embassy Staff Evacuation Hours After Iran Strike

According to Saed News, the United States has begun withdrawing diplomatic personnel from its embassy in Baghdad in the immediate aftermath of airstrikes carried out against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. The move, which was first reported by the Arabic news channel Al-Hadath, marks a sharp escalation in Washington's regional posture and signals heightened concern over retaliatory threats.

The report, published early Sunday, indicated that U.S. officials had issued evacuation orders to a new group of embassy staff, just hours after American warplanes struck nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The decision is part of what appears to be a broader security operation amid surging tensions across the Middle East.

Sources familiar with the matter said that the process of drawing down diplomatic personnel had already begun days earlier in response to Iranian missile operations targeting Israeli positions. However, the pace of the evacuation has intensified following the direct U.S. involvement in hostilities.

In recent days, Washington has quietly implemented similar drawdowns at its diplomatic missions in Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates—suggesting a coordinated precautionary effort across the region.

The departure of American staff from Baghdad underscores growing anxiety in Washington over the possible repercussions of its strike, especially in countries where U.S. personnel are within reach of Iranian-aligned militias or direct Iranian retaliation.