Update: The US State Department on Oct. 22 said it had on Oct. 20 ordered the departure of "eligible family members and non-emergency US government personnel from US Embassy Baghdad and US Consulate General Erbil." The reason for the order was described as "increased security threats against US government personnel and interests."

The story: The US is evacuating some personnel from its embassy in Baghdad, Amwaj.media has learned, apparently shifting them to neighboring Jordan. Blackhawk helicopters have since Oct. 21 been transferring staff from the Green Zone to Baghdad International Airport, with multiple flights to Amman departing over the past 24 hours. Informed sources have indicated that the individuals being evacuated from the Iraqi capital are non-essential personnel, with some changes at the Erbil consulate too. The US State Department did not provide comment to Amwaj.media at the time of publishing.

The evacuation follows a surge in attacks on US forces in Iraq in recent days, apparently triggered by the Hamas-Israel war. Amid indications that an Israeli...