US Embassy Orders Emergency Departure of Personnel From Iraq

A general view shows the U.S. Embassy across the Tigris river in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad on Jan. 3, 2020. Ahmad Al-Rubaye/AFP via Getty Images

The U.S. Embassy in Iraq has issued a “security alert” for the country and ordered the departure of nonemergency U.S. government officials and their family members.

In a bulletin issued on Oct. 22, the embassy stated that “non-emergency U.S. government personnel and eligible family members” should leave the country amid “increased security threats against U.S. government personnel and interests.”

Last week, a number of demonstrators took to the streets in Baghdad and other Iraqi cities to protest against the Israel campaign targeting Hamas after the terrorist group launched a series of attacks that killed hundreds of Israeli civilians earlier this month. There has been a surge of attacks against American troops stationed in both Iraq and Syria in recent weeks amid the Hamas–Israel conflict, and a U.S. Navy destroyer shot down multiple missiles and drones launched by Yemen’s Houthi militia group.

On Oct. 20, throngs of people who support Iraqi Shia armed groups gathered near Baghdad’s U.S. Embassy area, known as the Green Zone, to back the Palestinians and condemn Israel, according to reports and photos.

“The U.S. Mission continues to advise U.S. citizens to monitor local media for updates and to avoid protests and large gatherings,” a bulletin from the State Department reads. “U.S. citizens should be aware of the potential for demonstrations and protests related to the ongoing events in Gaza to spread rapidly throughout Iraq. Such demonstrations can develop quickly without prior notice, often interrupting traffic, transportation, and other services, and sometimes turning violent.”

Currently, the State Department lists Iraq—a country that has long been beset by war—as a Level 4 travel advisory, meaning that people shouldn’t travel there. The alert cites terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, civil unrest, and the embassy’s limited capacity to provide support to Americans traveling there.

“Terrorist and insurgent groups regularly attack Iraqi security forces and civilians. Anti-U.S. militias threaten U.S. citizens and international companies throughout Iraq,” the alert reads. “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.”

Washington is on heightened alert for activity by Iran-backed groups as regional tensions soar during the Israel–Hamas war, which began after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing more than 1,400 people.

Israel has since retaliated with deadly air strikes on Gaza, a 25-mile strip of land that’s home to 2.3 million people and has been ruled politically since 2007 by Hamas. Israel’s air strikes have killed more than 4,700 people, Palestinian officials claim.

Smoke in the Gaza Strip as seen from Israel's border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel on Oct. 18, 2023. Amir Cohen/Reuters

On Oct. 22, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said they saw the prospect of a significant escalation in attacks on American troops in the Middle East and of Iran seeking to widen the Israel–Hamas war.

The United States has sent a significant amount of naval power to the Middle East in recent weeks, including two aircraft carriers, their support ships, and about 2,000 Marines. The United States will send a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system and additional Patriot air defense missile system battalions to the Middle East, the Pentagon said on Oct. 21.

The State Department’s order comes as it recently issued a “worldwide caution” alert for Americans traveling overseas because of “increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests.”

On Oct. 24, Mr. Blinken urged Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to go after individuals who were behind attacks on U.S. and other coalition troops in Iraq, according to a State Department readout of their phone call.

“The Secretary welcomed the Government of Iraq’s condemnation of the recent attacks and threats to U.S. and Coalition personnel in Iraq,” the agency stated. “The Secretary urged the Prime Minister to pursue those behind the attacks and fulfill Iraq’s commitment to maintain the security at these installations.”

Many of the attacks have been claimed by an organization called “Islamic Resistance in Iraq” on Telegram channels affiliated with Iranian groups, AFP reported. U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Oct. 23 that Iran has been “actively facilitating” some of those attacks in recent days.

The State Department has also issued Level 4 alerts for Israel’s West Bank and Gaza regions, as well as Lebanon, which shares a border with the country. Iraq has been under the Level 4, or “do not travel,” designation for years amid a high risk of terrorism, conflict, protests, and kidnappings.

Currently, the United States has about 21 countries designated as Level 4 advisories, including a number of African and Middle Eastern countries, Russia, Ukraine, North Korea, Haiti, and multiple states in Mexico, among others.

Reuters contributed to this report.