WASHINGTON—The United States State Department advised on Sunday that American citizens should avoid traveling to Iraq following recent assaults on American soldiers and staff in the region.
The travel advisory says, “Do not travel to Iraq due to terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, civil unrest, and Mission Iraq’s limited capacity to provide support to U.S. citizens.”
Since the battle between Israel and Hamas terrorists in Gaza erupted, there has been an increase in assaults against US soldiers in Iraq and Syria. Last week, a US warship knocked down more than a dozen drones and four cruise missiles launched from Yemen by the Iranian-backed Houthis.
The recommendation came after the order for qualified family members and non-emergency U.S. government staff to leave the country. Baghdad embassy and U.S. Consulate General Erbil has been closed "due to increased security threats against U.S. personnel and interests," according to a statement from the State Department.
The message went on to say that anti-U.S. Militias "threaten U.S. citizens and international companies" across Iraq. Earlier on Sunday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned of a major increase in attacks on American forces in the Middle East, as well as Iran's efforts to broaden the Israel-Hamas conflict.
As regional tensions rise during the Israel-Hamas war, Washington is on high alert for activities by Iran-backed groups. The war began on Oct. 7, when the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas invaded Israel, killing over 1,400 people.
Israel has now replied with lethal air assaults on Gaza, a 45-kilometer (25-mile) strip of territory in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories that is home to 2.3 million people and has been governed politically by Hamas since 2007. According to Palestinian authorities, Israel's air attacks have killed nearly 4,700 Palestinians.
“Because of security concerns, U.S. government personnel in Baghdad are instructed not to use Baghdad International Airport,” the State Department said on Sunday.
In recent weeks, the United States has dispatched a substantial amount of naval strength to the Middle East, including two aircraft carriers, support ships, and around 2,000 Marines.
The Pentagon said on Saturday that the United States will send a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system and more Patriot air defense missile system battalions to the Middle East.
