State Department Tells Citizens Not to Travel to Iraq, Evacuates Non-Emergency Personnel From Embassy

State Department Tells Citizens Not to Travel to Iraq, Evacuates Non-Emergency Personnel From Embassy

The State Department has advised citizens not to travel to Iraq as it evacuates non-emergency personnel from the embassy in Baghdad.

The travel advisory warns citizens of “terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, civil unrest, and Mission Iraq’s limited capacity to provide support to U.S. citizens.”

The world has seen uprisings, protests, and attacks at U.S. embassies in Lebanon and Iraq during the war between Hamas and Israel.

NOW: Baghdad, Iraq—massive crowd heads towards the US embassy.

They’re chanting “America is the greatest devil.” pic.twitter.com/oCq8AsuyRi

— Diliman Abdulkader (@D_abdulkader) October 17, 2023

This is a scary situation in Iraq:

U.S. citizens in Iraq face high risks to their safety and security, including the potential for violence and kidnapping. Terrorist and insurgent groups regularly attack Iraqi security forces and civilians. Anti-U.S. militias threaten U.S. citizens and international companies throughout Iraq. Attacks using improvised explosive devices, indirect fire, and unmanned aerial vehicles occur in many areas of the country, including Baghdad and other major cities. In an emergency, consular services to U.S. citizens in Iraq are limited due to severe restrictions on the movements of U.S. government personnel.

Demonstrations, protests, and strikes occur frequently throughout the country. These events can develop quickly without prior notice, often interrupting traffic, transportation, and other services, and sometimes turning violent.

Do not travel near Iraq’s northern borders due to the continued threat of attacks by terrorist groups, armed conflict, aerial bombardment, and civil unrest. U.S. citizens should especially avoid areas near armed groups in northern Iraq, which have been targeted with aerial strikes by neighboring countries’ militaries.

The State Department also warned citizens not to “travel through Iraw to engage in armed conflict in Syria.” People face the same risks in Syria along with prison sentences of up to 10 years if they illegally cross into the country.

“Additionally, fighting on behalf of or supporting designated terrorist organizations is a crime under U.S. law that can result in prison sentences and large fines in the United States,” the department added.

The announcement comes after the U.S. evacuated non-emergency personnel from the embassy “due to increased security threats against U.S. government personnel and interests.”

Drones have targeted U.S. troops in Iraq. The attacks caused only minor injuries:

The first attack early on Wednesday involved two one-way drones that targeted al-Asad base, two U.S. officials said. One of the drones was intercepted but still managed to explode, causing the minor injuries and damaging some equipment. Some U.S. troops were being evaluated for possible traumatic brain injury, one of the officials said.

The second drone attack targeted the al-Harir air base, which houses U.S. forces in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil, according to the U.S. officials, an Iraqi security official and a Western diplomat.

The State Department issued a worldwide caution travel advisory last week since the world has seen way too many anti-Jew rallies disguised as pro-Palestine rallies in major cities.

The department already issued a do not travel advisory to Lebanon, home to Hezbollah. The protests at the U.S. embassy in Beirut became violent after Hamas claimed Israel bombed a hospital and killed 900 people. We all know that isn’t true.

Officials have not evacuated the embassy in Beirut but allowed families and non-emergency personnel to leave if they wanted to.

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