The U.S. Department of State has advised its citizens not to travel to Iraq due to security threats.
The warning cites terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, civil unrest, and the limited ability of the U.S. government to provide emergency services in Iraq as the primary reasons.
The department clearly stated to its citizens: “Do not travel to Iraq under any circumstances.”
This warning comes after The Washington Post reported that the U.S. government has increased the alert level at its embassies and military bases in the Middle East and activated emergency evacuation plans.
Earlier in the first week of January, the U.S. government also included Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Mali, Russia, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, and North Korea in the list of countries its citizens are advised against traveling to.