Iraq, U.S. deny planned evacuation of contractors from Iraqi base
TIKRIT, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraqi and U.S. military spokesmen denied on Saturday that U.S. forces were preparing to evacuate hundreds of staff of Lockheed Martin Corp and Sallyport Global from an Iraqi military base where they work as contractors.
Four separate military sources, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said on Friday the contractors from the two firms had been preparing to leave Balad military base, which hosts U.S. forces some 80 km (50 miles) north of Baghdad, over “potential security threatsâ€, without saying what those threats might be.
One of the military sources and a fifth security source later said the evacuation had been called off early on Saturday after U.S. and Iraqi military personnel assured the companies that safety measures would be stepped up around the base.
Read more at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-iran-usa-iraq/iraq-u-s-deny-planned-evacuation-of-contractors-from-iraqi-base-idUSKCN1TM2OE
For the last few days, it was reported that contractors were being evacuated. This story says no though, it does indicate there are some measures being enacted for their safety.
