"US Evacuates Personnel from Iraq, Urges Citizens to Avoid Travel"

The US State Department has ordered the departure of non-emergency embassy personnel and their families from its Baghdad and Erbil embassies in Iraq due to increased security threats. A travel advisory has also been issued, warning US citizens not to travel to Iraq due to terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, civil unrest, and limited support for US citizens. US officials have warned of an escalated threat to Washington's interests in the Middle East, with concerns that Iran may exploit tensions by widening the conflict in Gaza. The US has deployed naval power, marines, and air-defense systems to the region in response to the ongoing conflict between Hamas and the Israeli military.