ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The US diplomatic mission in Iraq on Monday reiterated its urgent call on American citizens to “leave Iraq now” and avoid heading to the US embassy in Baghdad or the consulate in Erbil, citing an escalation in attacks by Iran-aligned armed groups and warning that US nationals face a “risk of kidnapping.”
The warning came shortly after a top commander of a powerful Iran-backed Iraqi armed group, Kata’ib Hezbollah, was confirmed dead, reportedly killed in a US strike in Baghdad late last week.
In a statement on X, the US embassy in Baghdad said that “Iran-aligned terrorist militias have incited and carried out attacks against U.S. citizens and U.S.-linked targets throughout Iraq, including the Iraqi Kurdistan Region (IKR).”
“U.S. citizens must leave Iraq immediately,” it added, urging Americans not to attempt travel to the US Embassy in Baghdad or the Consulate in Erbil due to ongoing security risks. The warning comes amid “repeated attacks” in the heavily fortified Green Zone, where the American embassy is located, as well as incidents targeting Erbil International Airport and the US Consulate General in the Kurdish capital.
The embassy further advised that US citizens should leave Iraq now and avoid traveling to the country, warning they “face the risk of kidnapping” and noting that “U.S. individuals have been specifically targeted.” It also cautioned that “Iran-aligned militias may hinder the ability of Iraqi authorities to respond effectively during emergencies.”
Notably, shortly after the warning, video footage reportedly showing the embassy’s C-RAM defenses intercepting what is believed to be an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) surfaced online.