Iraq ramp up security in Baghdad's Green Zone after US airstrikes on Iran

Tensions rise in Iraq after Saturday's U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, with Baghdad intensifying security measures in the Green Zone and a mass evacuation of U.S. embassy personnel underway.

The Iraqi Security Forces have deployed SWAT teams and armored vehicles in the Green Zone, particularly heavily in areas near the U.S. embassy. Temporary cordons were established around the diplomatic premises, barring access of unauthorized personnel. According to sources in the Iraqi Foreign Ministry, over 500 staff members and contractors associated with the U.S. embassy have already left the country.

Meanwhile, Shia militias associated with Iran in Iraq have issued statements over the past days, threatening retaliatory attacks on U.S. military bases in the Middle East in response to the strikes on Iran. The Iraqi government is still in communication with radical militias to prevent further escalation of the situation.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani pointed out in Monday's phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin that the U.S. military aircraft intruded Iraqi airspace while carrying out the attacks on Iran.

Al-Sudani condemned the violation of Iraqi airspace by U.S. and Israeli aircraft, stressing Iraq's commitment to upholding its sovereignty and calling on the UN Security Council to fulfill its core responsibility in halting the war and intensifying diplomatic efforts.

Multiple Iraqi parliament members and religious leaders have voiced criticism against the U.S. for its hypocrisy, demanding the Iraqi government to strengthen airspace control and calling for withdrawal of the U.S.-led coalition forces from Iraq, the prime minister said.

Small-scale protests have also broken out in Bagdad and Najaf, with demonstrators holding banners saying "Defend sovereignty, oppose occupation," requiring the government to take a tougher stance against the U.S. military operations.

Facing growing pressures from multiple sides, the Iraqi government is reassessing its security and military cooperation framework with the U.S.

According to some analysts, if the U.S. continues to ignore Iraqi sovereignty and take further military actions against Iran, the U.S.-Iraq relationship might face challenges.

Iraq ramp up security in Baghdad's Green Zone after US airstrikes on Iran

Iraq ramp up security in Baghdad's Green Zone after US airstrikes on Iran

Iraq ramp up security in Baghdad's Green Zone after US airstrikes on Iran

Iraq ramp up security in Baghdad's Green Zone after US airstrikes on Iran

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Thursday presided over a State Council executive meeting that studied work on building a unified national market and reviewed and approved a plan for the development of a modern emergency response system during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).

Noting that building a unified national market is essential to advancing high-quality development, the meeting called for deepening institutional frameworks in areas such as property rights protection, market access, fair competition, social credit and market exit mechanisms.

The meeting also urged efforts to advance high-standard connectivity of market infrastructure to facilitate smooth economic circulation and effectively reduce logistics costs across society.

Emergency management is critical to protecting people's lives and property, the meeting said. It called for accelerating the development of a modern emergency response system, deepening reform and innovation in emergency management, and improving coordinated response mechanisms.

Efforts should be made to strengthen risk prevention at the source, enhance monitoring, forecasting and early warning, and accelerate a shift in governance toward proactive prevention, according to the meeting.

A draft revision of the Law on the People's Bank of China was also discussed and approved in principle at the meeting, which decided to submit the draft to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for deliberation.

Chinese premier chairs State Council executive meeting