Other countries' reactions

The UK is urgently "working to establish the facts on the ground," reported the BBC citing the UK foreign office. British forces are "on standby" to assist in the Middle East following the escalation of tension between the U.S. and Iran, Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said earlier.

Canada, which also has forces in Iraq, announced on Tuesday that it was temporarily moving some of its approximately 500 troops to Kuwait as a precaution.

The Philippines said it has ordered thousands of its citizens to leave Iraq, given the tension.

New Zealand's military personnel in Iraq were safe, New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters said on Wednesday, while expressing concern over the escalation in hostility between Iran and the U.S.

New Zealand has 50 military personnel in Iraq. Camp Taji, where most New Zealanders are stationed, was not attacked, Peters said.