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riversedge

(80,550 posts)
Wed Mar 11, 2026, 08:51 PM 11 hrs ago

US struggles to evacuate American personnel from facilities under fire in Iraq:

Source: abc news


Some U.S. staff were flown out by the British air force, officials said.
By Shannon K. Kingston March 11, 2026, 4:48 PM



In the nearly 10 days since the State Department directed non-emergency government employees to leave Iraq amid the war with Iran, the U.S. has struggled to remove all personnel impacted by the order from potential danger, two U.S. officials tell ABC News.

Officials say U.S. diplomatic missions across the Middle East were given little warning in the run up to the strikes, and that even though conditions in countries like Iraq quickly deteriorated to a point where an ordered departure for non-emergency personnel would be expected, days passed before the orders were formally issued.

Military flights to remove personnel from Baghdad, where the U.S. embassy is located, were delayed by several days after the order was issued due to hazardous security conditions, the officials said..................


Though heavily fortified, American diplomatic facilities in Iraq have been under near-constant attack from Iran and its proxy militia groups since the U.S. initiated military action against Iran on Feb. 28...................


Read more: https://abcnews.com/International/us-struggles-evacuate-american-personnel-facilities-fire-iraq/story?id=130981420






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A drone was intercepted in the sky near the former U.S. consulate and the airport at around 4:30 pm, in Erbil, Northern Iraq, on March 1, 2026.
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US struggles to evacuate American personnel from facilities under fire in Iraq: (Original Post) riversedge 11 hrs ago OP
sounds like great planning Skittles 10 hrs ago #1
Am reminded of this UpInArms 10 hrs ago #2
Under Trump our government is no longer able to protect or evacuate our personnel working overseas. Incredible Martin68 10 hrs ago #3

Martin68

(27,573 posts)
3. Under Trump our government is no longer able to protect or evacuate our personnel working overseas. Incredible
Wed Mar 11, 2026, 09:39 PM
10 hrs ago

incompetence and a total lack of respect for those who give their lives for their country. We used to be good this. My family was posted overseas all my life and there was always a plan whenever local conditions become risky. We had a little bag packed and a two-way radio to let us know when and how to evacuate.

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