Left: Interior Ministry spokesperson Brig. Gen. Abbas al-Bahadli delivers a statement. Right: Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein appears in an interview setting.
Iraq officials differ on status of diplomatic missions after attacks
BAGHDAD — Iraqi officials issued differing statements on the status of foreign diplomatic missions following recent attacks, with the Interior Ministry asserting that all missions remain active and protected while the Foreign Ministry warned of reputational damage from departures.
Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said the departure of diplomatic missions has affected Iraq’s reputation and created a crisis for his ministry, linking the situation to attacks targeting the U.S. Embassy and Al-Rasheed Hotel.
“These attacks created a crisis and raised questions about who decides war and peace,” Hussein said.
In contrast, Interior Ministry spokesperson Brig. Gen. Abbas al-Bahadli said “all diplomatic missions and entities are operating in the country, retaining their legal status and functioning effectively.”
He added that “the Ministry of Interior is continuing its work to achieve security stability and provide a suitable environment for sustainable development,” reiterating that “all diplomatic missions and entities are present and active in the country.”
Al-Bahadli said security measures extend across key facilities, noting that “all prisons are fully secured with external perimeters and logistical equipment,” and that “all hotels are fully secured.”
He described Baghdad as “a city that does not sleep and whose lights do not go out,” adding that “procedures in Iraq are clear and explicit.”
He also called on citizens to “exercise accuracy and caution when dealing with suspicious objects that may fall in some areas to preserve their personal safety,” and urged the public to allow security forces, rescue teams and civil defense units to carry out their work.
Al-Bahadli warned that “circulation of fabricated videos on social media and some channels exposes residential areas and their inhabitants to danger and spreads inaccurate information,” stressing the ministry’s commitment to “not allowing rumors to spread at the expense of Iraqi blood.”
The statements come after National Security Adviser Qassem al-Araji said Iraq has taken “strict security measures to protect diplomatic missions and embassies,” during a meeting with EU Ambassador Thomas Seiler, emphasizing Baghdad’s commitment to maintaining relations with European countries and other partners.
Seiler said EU countries value their ties with Iraq and praised “the efforts of the Iraqi government in supporting directions to end the ongoing conflict in the region and its steps in maintaining the security and stability of the region and the world.”
Recent weeks have seen repeated attacks on diplomatic sites, including strikes on the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad’s Green Zone, a drone attack on Al-Rasheed Hotel housing the Saudi embassy and the EU Advisory Mission, and two attacks on the UAE Consulate General in Erbil.