BAGHDAD,— The French Embassy in Baghdad on Monday urged its citizens to leave Iraqi Kurdistan, citing what it described as a worsening security situation in the region.
In a message sent to French nationals living in the autonomous Kurdistan region of northern Iraq, the embassy said that due to the deteriorating regional security climate and recent strikes on the Kurdistan region, French citizens should depart through Turkey.
The advisory followed Iraq’s decision on Saturday to close its airspace.
Iraq, which has regained relative stability in recent years, has long been an arena for rivalry between the United States and Iran.
Iraqi authorities have said they do not want the country to be drawn into the current conflict. However, developments in recent days have affected parts of the country.
Since the early hours of the campaign against Iran, strikes attributed to the United States and Israel have targeted armed groups backed by Tehran. Those groups have vowed to respond.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said on Monday that Iran continues to shell areas in the Kurdistan Region, especially Erbil.
He added that the opposing side has targeted sites in southern and western Iraq, without directly naming either the United States or Israel.
On Sunday, nine fighters from Iran-backed groups were killed in separate airstrikes. Five of them were members of Kataeb Hezbollah.
Several Iraqi armed factions aligned with Iran, operating under the umbrella of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, including Kataeb Hezbollah, have said they will not remain neutral and will defend the Islamic republic.
Since the launch of the US-Israel campaign, drones have been intercepted several times over Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan region. The city hosts troops from the US-led coalition and a large US consulate compound.
On Monday, loud explosions were heard as air defense systems shot down drones near Erbil airport, where foreign forces are stationed.
(With files from AFP)
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