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US Embassy in Baghdad Urges Citizens to Exit Iraq Amid Militia Attack Fears
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Conflict & Security

US Embassy in Baghdad Urges Citizens to Exit Iraq Amid Militia Attack Fears

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad has urged its citizens to leave Iraq due to escalating threats from pro-Iranian militias.
  • The advisory warns of potential attacks targeting foreigners, particularly in the Kurdistan region.
  • The warning comes amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran, including recent cross-border attacks.

The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad issued a stark warning on Saturday, advising American citizens to depart Iraq immediately due to an increasing risk of attacks by pro-Iranian militias targeting foreigners. The advisory specifically highlighted potential threats in hotels frequented by expatriates in the Iraqi Kurdistan region.

Groups aligned with Iran could attack hotels frequented by foreigners in the Iraqi Kurdistan region. U.S. citizens are strongly advised to leave the country as soon as it is safely possible and reconsider their accommodation options if they choose not to do so.

— U.S. Embassy in Baghdadissuing the security advisory for citizens in Iraq

"We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens leave the country as soon as it is safely possible and reconsider their accommodation options if they choose not to do so," the embassy stated in a release. The diplomatic mission indicated it would continue to share necessary information and that the U.S. government is exploring options to assist Americans in leaving the Middle East.

Those who decide to remain in Iraq are urged to prepare for prolonged periods in safe locations and to stock essential provisions like food, water, and medicine. This alert follows similar warnings issued by U.S. embassies in Israel and Amman, which have cautioned Americans in the wider Middle East region about the complex security situation and the potential for unforeseen escalation.

Americans in the region should consider departing or be prepared to do so in case of an escalation of the situation.

— U.S. Embassy in Ammanwarning about the security situation in the Middle East

The heightened advisory comes just days after U.S. and Saudi airstrikes targeted positions of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), an umbrella group of Iraqi armed factions. Tensions between Washington and Tehran have been escalating, marked by reciprocal attacks, a U.S. naval blockade on Iranian vessels, and Iran's threat to close the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has also warned Muslim countries against military cooperation with the U.S., threatening they would "burn in the fire of war."

The United States is seeking a widespread escalation and warned the region's Muslim countries to reconsider their military cooperation with the U.S. or else they will 'burn in the fire of war.'

— Irancommenting on U.S. actions and regional security
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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