US will close Iraq embassy unless government secures Green Zone, sources

The United States is prepared to shutter its embassy in Iraq unless tangible action is taken in the coming days to halt repeated attacks on the outpost and American soldiers in the country, sources in Baghdad confirmed to The National.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo threatened to close the embassy in a phone call a week ago to President Barham Salih, two Iraqi government sources told Reuters. The news was confirmed to The National by sources close to the Iraqi government who said that no final decision has yet been taken but saw the US as "serious".
Washington has reportedly already begun preparations to withdraw diplomatic staff if the move is made, Reuters said, but the sources told The National that reports that US Ambassador to Iraq Matthew Tueller had left were untrue.
The sources added that reports that diplomats may simply relocate to the relative safety of Erbil in Iraq's Kurdish autonomous region were untrue and a closure would see embassy staff leaving Iraq.
Washington blames Iran backed militias for firing rockets towards their embassy on a near weekly basis for months as well as for shelling Iraqi bases housing international troops, including many of the 5,000 American soldiers deployed in the country. 
A rocket landed near Baghdad airport late Monday, killing three civilians and wounding two others, security officials said. 
Now, the sources told The National, Washington is seeking clear and tangible action from the government of Mustafa Al Kadhimi to end the attacks and hold perpetrators to account.
In the wake of Mr Pompeo's call, Iraqi sides have been engaged in high level consultations on how to meet the US demands.
At the heart of the US proposal, the sources in Baghdad said, was the security of the heavily fortified Green Zone. It houses numerous embassies – including the American embassy that was constructed to be the biggest US diplomatic outpost in the world – as well as the Iraqi parliament and other official buildings.
While Washington recognises that the rocket attacks are coming from outside the cordon, they point to the "thousands" of Iran backed militiamen that are based within its confines.
The Americans want these paramilitaries removed by the government, state security to bolster defences around the area and the deployment of more reliable forces.
"They said there can be no long-term solution without an end to the impunity for attacks as well as armed groups," one Iraqi source said.
Commenting on the news, a Western diplomat from a close US ally said that clear action is needed.
"The prime minister needs the active support of all the main political leaders to be able to tackle the security threats from rogue militia groups," the diplomat told The National.
The US ambassador to Iraq, Mathew Tueller, discussed on Monday ways to strengthen security cooperation with Iraq's National Security Adviser, Qassem Al Araji.
The US ambassador confirmed Washington's support for Baghdad's anti terror operation and said it will provide assistance in "overcoming current challenges."