"An "ordered departure" went out Monday to nonessential American staff and their families at the U.S. Consulate in Adana, in southern Turkey, according to the State Department. A similar notice had been sent Sunday to staff at the U.S. diplomatic mission in Saudi Arabia. Additional mandatory departures could be imminent."
"U.S. diplomats were coordinating on an "overland evacuation" contingency plan for the remaining U.S. personnel at the consulate in Irbil to travel to Turkey, according to a State Department cable from last week reviewed by The Washington Post. American staff at the U.S. missions in Baghdad and Irbil were ordered to leave the country last week, but a core group of personnel remain."
"The State Department prepares and plans for crises and evacuations constantly, and I have heard no good justification for why more was not done to ensure the safety of Americans earlier, said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (New Hampshire), the ranking Democrat on the Senate."
The Trump administration has ordered nonessential U.S. diplomatic staff and their families to depart from multiple Middle Eastern locations, including the U.S. Consulate in Adana, Turkey, and the diplomatic mission in Saudi Arabia. This action reflects persistent security concerns stemming from Iran's retaliatory attacks that began over a week after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian military and political leadership on February 28. Additional mandatory departures may follow, with contingency plans including overland evacuation routes from the consulate in Irbil to Turkey. Core personnel remain at missions in Baghdad and Irbil. State Department leadership faces criticism for allegedly being unprepared for the attacks and Iran's response, with lawmakers questioning why adequate safety measures were not implemented earlier.
Read at The Washington Post
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