White House Calls Crisis in Iraq ‘Disturbing’ – But Has Not Evacuated US Embassy

The Biden administration is expressing concern over violence in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. Still, it denies reports that it ordered the evacuation of the U.S. embassy in the heavily-fortified Green Zone.

Retired Rear Admiral John Kirby said that while Iraq’s democratic institutions “are not being allowed to function,” reports of the embassy being under threat are “false.”

The Hill reports:

“There’s no evacuation going on at the embassy and no indication that’s going to be required at this time,” Kirby told reporters on a call on Monday.

Media reports indicated that multiple people were killed and several were injured in clashes in the Green Zone in Baghdad after Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr announced he plans to withdraw from political life.

Sadr’s supporters stormed Iraq’s Republican Palace after his announcement.

The ongoing unrest follows a meeting between Sadr — a hugely popular cleric and former U.S. battlefield foe — and Iranian Brigadier General Esmail Ghaani. Ghaani oversees the Quds Force, responsible for expanding Tehran’s influence through “extraterritorial and clandestine military operations.” Besides being famous for his militant supporters, Sadr’s party won a plurality of seats in last year’s parliamentary elections. However, its elected representatives resigned en masse and stormed the parliament building after failing to form a majority coalition.

Sadr told Ghaani that Iraq, as a sovereign Arab state, would not tolerate its Persian neighbor meddling in its politics anymore. The message was not well received by Ghaani.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said over the weekend that the destabilizing effects of the meeting threaten to undo years of progress in the vulnerable democracy.

The Arab Weekly explains:

“This political crisis threatens the security achievements and the nation’s stability,” Kadhimi said in a speech in Baghdad.

“Now, the solution is for all political parties to make concessions for the interests of Iraq and Iraqis,” said Kadhimi.

Last week, Kadhimi called for a meeting of senior political leaders and party representatives to find a solution. But the “National Dialogue” was boycotted by the Sadrist movement and later by the Kurdish Democratic Party and the Sunni Sovereignty Alliance in solidarity with Sadr. Kadhimi warned that if “fighting erupts, the shootings will not stop and will remain for years.”

This story is developing. Stay with American Liberty News for the latest updates.

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