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The United States has ordered all non-emergency personnel in Iraq to leave the country, The Mirror reports.

On Tuesday the US military said it was concerned about the threat Iranian-backed forces presented to troops in Iraq - who are under a high level of alert.

The statement today issued by the US State Department says: "The US State department has ordered the departure of non-emergency US Government employees from Iraq, both at the US Embassy in Baghdad and the US Consulate in Erbil.

"Normal visa services at both posts will be temporarily suspended.

"The US government has limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in Iraq."

Tensions between the US and Iran continue to rise.

Acting Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan said the military had plans to send up to 120,000 troops to the Middle East should Iran attack US forces there or accelerate work on nuclear weapons, according to the New York Times.

Washington has warned Tehran - Iran's capital - that it would would “suffer greatly” if it does anything against US forces or interests in the region.

American investigators believe that Iran - or groups it supports - used explosives to damage four ships off the United Arab Emirates on Sunday however no evidence has yet pointed the finger at the Middle East country.