Iraq orders evacuation of Hashd al-Shaabi headquarters in Diyala

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Diyala Provincial Directorate of Security issued an urgent evacuation order overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday for Hashd al-Shaabi headquarters in the province, a security source told local media. The order was issued as a precaution after unidentified aircraft were spotted over the area, with the source adding that the origin of the aerial activity had not yet been determined. The directive follows late-July joint U.S.-Saudi airstrikes on Hashd al-Shaabi facilities in several provinces, including Diyala. The group has said those strikes killed at least 20 of its members and wounded 32 others. The security source linked the latest evacuation decision to those previous attacks. Officials said security measures have been heightened across the province. No further details on the evacuation timeline or the aircraft involved were immediately available.