Non-essential American embassy staff and their dependents in Baghdad are evacuating from Iraq due to heightened security risks, US government sources said on Wednesday.Officials did not say exactly what prompted the removal,

The State Department is reportedly ordering the departure of all nonessential personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. It will also authorize non-essential personnel to leave from other Middle East nations in the region.

The move comes after the Iranian defense minister warned that Tehran would target U.S. bases in the area if tensions escalated.