The Iraqi government said Saturday (July 21st) that it is continuing to bring Iraqi citizens from Syria to Iraq by airlift and land.

Officials cautioned Iraqis to be cautious when they move between Syrian cities.

Ali al-Dabbagh, the Iraqi government spokesperson, said Iraq evacuated more than 8,600 Iraqi citizens by air and buses in recent days, and efforts are continuing to transfer them to Iraq.

Al-Dabbagh said the government is bearing all the costs of transporting Iraqi citizens and is also securing their legal documents for entry to the country.

He said Iraq will transport 30,000 citizens over the next 24 hours by increasing the number of buses and planes for transport.

Dabbagh said on Thursday that he estimated around 100,000 to 200,000 Iraqis still remained inside Syria. He added that around 1,000 Iraqis had returned to the country by plane from Syria, and a further 1,500 were waiting at Damascus airport.