White House calls deadly clashes in Baghdad 'disturbing,' no plans to evacuate U.S. embassy

Authorities would not comment as to whether there is or has been any reduction of staff at the Baghdad Embassy.

Published: August 30, 2022 11:32am

Updated: August 30, 2022 2:07pm

The White House says the deadly clashes in Baghdad are "disturbing" but said it has no plans to evacuate the U.S. embassy in Iraq's capital city.

At least 30 people are dead and hundreds more are have wounded in clashes in response to cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's resignation announcement Monday, according to the Associated Press.

The clashes between police and protesters who broke through barricades and into the government palace appeared to subside Tuesday – following Al-Sadr's call for the protesters to stand down.

The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, however, issued a security alert for U.S. citizens, urging them to avoid areas in which the demonstrations have occurred. Meanwhile, the Netherlands has evacuated its embassy in the city's so-called Green Zone.

The U.S. officials also said the U.S. Consulate General in Erbil will remain open to provide American citizens with routine and emergency services. Such services have been suspended in the embassy in Baghdad since 2019, when thousands of demonstrators stormed the building in response to U.S. drone strikes.

The U.S. military completely withdrew from Iraq in August 2021.