BERLIN, March 11, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Germany has evacuated staff from its consulate in Erbil, northern Iraq, a foreign ministry source said Wednesday, following similar moves in Baghdad and Tehran amid the Middle East war.

"In view of the risk assessment on the ground, Foreign Minister (Johann) Wadephul has decided to take further measures to protect our personnel in Iraq," the source said.

"The staff of the consulate in Erbil have been temporarily relocated from Iraq."

A ministry spokesman told a press briefing that staff had also been moved from Baghdad in light of the ongoing "threat situation" in the Middle East.

The foreign ministry had already reported that staff from its embassy in Tehran were being relocated to an undisclosed location.

"The safety of our employees is our top priority and is therefore constantly being discussed by the German government's crisis management team," the ministry said.

The Middle East war began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 and has provoked waves of Iranian retaliatory missile and drone fire.

Iran has targeted Erbil in strikes this week described by state broadcaster IRIB as "the most intense and heaviest since the start of the war".

Countries across the Gulf region, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have also come under fire.

During a visit to Doha on Wednesday, Wadephul said Germany "stands in full solidarity with Qatar and all our partners in the Gulf".

"The attacks from Iran must stop and security in the Gulf must be restored without delay," he said in a post on X.

Wadephul has also visited Cyprus, Israel and Saudi Arabia as part of a regional tour.

In Riyadh, he called on Iran to "cease its indiscriminate attacks on neighbouring states, diplomatic missions and civilian infrastructure".