The United States government issued a security alert this Saturday (14) recommending that American citizens leave Iraq immediately after the drone attack that hit the American embassy in Baghdad.
The statement is the second released by the diplomatic mission. On Friday (13), the embassy had already warned US citizens about the increase in threats attributed to Iran and militias aligned with Tehran.
According to the alert, these groups have already carried out attacks against American citizens, United States companies and critical infrastructure, including energy sector installations operated by American companies since the beginning of the war against Iran. The embassy also states that hotels frequented by foreigners and other places associated with the USA have also been targeted, including in the Iraqi Kurdistan region.
On Friday, the statement also highlighted the risk of kidnapping of American citizens and recommended that foreigners “maintain a low profile, avoid areas associated with the United States, and remain aware of their surroundings.”
According to the embassy, Iraqi airspace remains closed and commercial flights are not operating in the country. Alternatively, US citizens can leave the territory via land routes to Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia or Turkey, although the US government warns of the possibility of long delays at the borders.
The situation worsened this Saturday with the attack on the American diplomatic complex located in the center of the Iraqi capital. The region has seen a series of protests and attacks since the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
