The State Department announced Thursday that staff temporarily relocated outside Iraq will gradually return to the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and Consulate General in Erbil, reaffirming Washington’s commitment to supporting Iraq’s sovereignty and engaging with its leaders and people.

During a media briefing, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated that Secretary Marco Rubio has decided to end the Ordered Departure Status for U.S. Mission Iraq personnel, including those at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and the U.S. Consulate General in Erbil.

“Personnel who are temporarily relocated outside of Iraq will begin a gradual return to U.S. Embassy Baghdad and Consulate General Erbil,” Bruce said.

She added that the U.S. travel advisory for Iraq remains at Level 4, which translates to “Do Not Travel.”

However, she emphasized, “We remain strongly committed to advancing our policy priorities in Iraq, strengthening Iraq’s sovereignty, advancing U.S. business interests, and engaging with Iraqi leaders and the Iraqi people.”

Bruce further noted that the State Department and U.S. missions in Baghdad and Erbil will continue to “closely monitor” security developments in Iraq and the surrounding region.

Amid the outbreak of the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran in June, which began with Israeli airstrikes targeting key Iranian military and nuclear facilities and was met with retaliatory missile and drone attacks by Iran, the United States withdrew some diplomats from its embassy in Baghdad due to heightened security threats. Nevertheless, the embassy facility remained operational.