Iraqi Government has assured that all possible measures will be taken to ensure the safety of stranded Indian nationals in Iraq. The assurance was given by Iraqi Deputy Foreign Minister Nasar Khairullah who spoke to Indian Ambassador in Iraq, Ajay Kumar in Baghdad.

He said all efforts will be made to ensure their safety and security. Around 86 Indian nationals are stranded in Mosul and Tikrit, which are now in control of militants. These include 41 workers from a construction company in Mosul and 46 nurses from a government hospital in Tikrit. There are around 20,000 Indian nationals in Iraq.

The Iraqi Red Crescent representatives met stranded Indian nurses at the hospital yesterday. The nurses were safe. Most of these nurses are from Kerala. India’s Ambassador to Iraq, Ajay Kumar told AIR from Baghdad that efforts are on to ensure that they return home safely.

Meanwhile, Iraqi defence ministry has said that its Air Force pounded the terrorists’ shelters in Salaheddin, Nineveh and Samara. It also claimed that the government forces have foiled a terrorist attack to storm into Baiji refinery killing some of them. Over the past few days, Iraqi Air Force have stepped up air strikes targeting militant’s strongholds in Mosul, Samarra, Salahuddin and the north of the country.

Security has been beefed up in the capital Baghdad. US is deploying 275 Marines to protect the U.S. Embassy and American citizens in Baghdad. President Obama has sent a letter to this effect to the US Congress. US Aircraft carrier, George H.W. Bush has already moved into the Persian gulf, closer to Iraq. President Obama has said he is considering military action, short of putting U.S. troops in Iraq.

United Nations has pulled out 58 staff members from Baghdad, and said more personnel may be moved out of the capital city in the coming days.

Meanwhile, Turkey has asked its citizens to leave the cities of Mosul, Kirkuk, Salah ad Din, Diyala, Anbar, Baghdad and Basra.