A protester places a shoe on a placard with an image of Donald Trump during a rally outside the US Embassy in Baghdad on New Year’s Day. (Reuters Photo)WASHINGTON: The US State Department on Friday issued a directive to American citizens to depart Iraq immediately because of the heightened tensions in the region as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called for “de-escalation” with Iran. “We don’t seek war with Iran,” Pompeo told Fox News. The president had no immediate comment, but tweeted the image of an American flag while the US embassy in Baghdad urged its citizens to leave the country. “Due to Iranian-backed militia attacks at the US Embassy compound, all consular operations are suspended,” the State Department said on Twitter earlier Friday.

Source: Bangkok Post January 03, 2020 14:15 UTC