Iraqi Kurdistan will resume oil exports through a pipeline to Turkey after a two-year halt, Iraq's federal government said on Thursday despite a fourth day of drone attacks that have shut down half of the region's output.

A US-led coalition was formed in 2014 to combat ISIS and launched a sustained military campaign across Iraq and Syria. The group’s territorial rule officially ended in March 2019, when US-backed Kurdish forces captured Baghouz, the last ISIS-held town in eastern Syria, though raids on remaining hideouts continue.

Iraq approved a plan for its semi-autonomous Kurdish region to transfer oil to Baghdad, a step toward resuming exports that have been halted for more than two years.

The State Department says it is ending its ordered departure status for U.S. diplomats and other government employees at its embassy and consulate in Iraq. Spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said Secretary of State Marco Rubio decided on July 17 to lower the security alert level for staffers at the Baghdad embassy and consulate in Irbil.