In its final weeks before the transfer of power, the Trump administration has decided to withdraw some staff from the US embassy in Baghdad, officials said.
The move was "a temporary de-risking" that will follow the January 3 anniversary of the assassination of Qassem Suleimani, Iran's most senior military general, by drone strike in Baghdad, a source told The Washington Post.
The number of staff being withdrawn was unclear, the source added.
No group has claimed responsibility for several rocket attacks that have targeted the embassy so far this year but Washington believes Tehran-backed militias are behind them.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has threatened to withdraw the US embassy from Iraq to pressure Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi to further crack down on Iranian-backed militias.
A State Department official did not comment on specific staff drawdowns from the US embassy in Baghdad but said these changes are adjusted in line with the local security environment.
"The State Department continually adjusts its posture at embassies and consulates throughout the world in line with its mission, the local security environment, the health situation and even the holidays," the official told The National.
The official did not deny the reports and stressed that "ensuring the safety of US government personnel, US citizens and the security of our facilities remains our highest priority."
US ambassador Matthew Tueller will remain in Iraq and the embassy will continue to operate, the official said.
Tensions between Tehran and Washington are mounting.
Last week, Iran’s top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was assassinated in Tehran.
Iran has blamed his death on Israel and the US and has vowed to avenge it.
In recent months, the Trump administration has been increasing pressure on Iran, hitting it with sanctions that have crippled its economy.
But President-elect Joe Biden, who comes into power in January 20, has said he will return the US to a nuclear accord between Iran and other countries before quickly launching talks on other issues, reviving diplomacy to ease soaring tensions.
Suleimani was killed in Iraq in retaliation for an attack by Iran-backed militias on the US embassy in late 2019.
On December 29, US air strikes hit weapons depots and command and control centres of Kataib Hezbollah, one of the most influential Iran-backed militia groups, across Iraq and Syria.
Kataib Hezbollah's leader and founder, Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis, was killed alongside Suleimani.
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Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
LAST-16 EUROPA LEAGUE FIXTURES
Wednesday (Kick-offs UAE)
FC Copenhagen (0) v Istanbul Basaksehir (1) 8.55pm
Shakhtar Donetsk (2) v Wolfsburg (1) 8.55pm
Inter Milan v Getafe (one leg only) 11pm
Manchester United (5) v LASK (0) 11pm
Thursday
Bayer Leverkusen (3) v Rangers (1) 8.55pm
Sevilla v Roma (one leg only) 8.55pm
FC Basel (3) v Eintracht Frankfurt (0) 11pm
Wolves (1) Olympiakos (1) 11pm
The specs: 2018 Maserati GranTurismo/GranCabrio
Price, base Dh485,000 (GranTurismo) and Dh575,000 (GranCabrio)
Engine 4.7L V8
Transmission Six-speed automatic
Power 460hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque 520Nm @ 4,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.3L (GranTurismo) and 14.5L (GranCabrio) / 100km
Recent winners
2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)
2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)
2007 Grace Bijjani (Mexico)
2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)
2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)
2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)
2011 Maria Farah (Canada)
2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)
2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)
2014 Lia Saad (UAE)
2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)
2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)
2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)
2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)
POWERWASH%20SIMULATOR
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Company%20Profile
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First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
ELECTION%20RESULTS
%3Cp%3EMacron%E2%80%99s%20Ensemble%20group%20won%20245%20seats.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20second-largest%20group%20in%20parliament%20is%20Nupes%2C%20a%20leftist%20coalition%20led%20by%20Jean-Luc%20Melenchon%2C%20which%20gets%20131%20lawmakers.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20far-right%20National%20Rally%20fared%20much%20better%20than%20expected%20with%2089%20seats.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20centre-right%20Republicans%20and%20their%20allies%20took%2061.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Zayed Sustainability Prize
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The biog
Age: 59
From: Giza Governorate, Egypt
Family: A daughter, two sons and wife
Favourite tree: Ghaf
Runner up favourite tree: Frankincense
Favourite place on Sir Bani Yas Island: “I love all of Sir Bani Yas. Every spot of Sir Bani Yas, I love it.”
If you go
The flights
Etihad flies direct from Abu Dhabi to San Francisco from Dh5,760 return including taxes.
The car
Etihad Guest members get a 10 per cent worldwide discount when booking with Hertz, as well as earning miles on their rentals. A week's car hire costs from Dh1,500 including taxes.
The hotels
Along the route, Motel 6 (www.motel6.com) offers good value and comfort, with rooms from $55 (Dh202) per night including taxes. In Portland, the Jupiter Hotel (https://jupiterhotel.com/) has rooms from $165 (Dh606) per night including taxes. The Society Hotel https://thesocietyhotel.com/ has rooms from $130 (Dh478) per night including taxes.
More info
To keep up with constant developments in Portland, visit www.travelportland.com. Good guidebooks include the Lonely Planet guides to Northern California and Washington, Oregon & the Pacific Northwest.
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
The five pillars of Islam
Review: Tomb Raider
Dir: Roar Uthaug
Starring: Alicia Vikander, Dominic West, Daniel Wu, Walter Goggins
two stars
Alita: Battle Angel
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Stars: Rosa Salazar, Christoph Waltz, Keean Johnson
Four stars
