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The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad has issued a warning for Americans residing in Iraq, advising them to remain indoors until further notice due to escalated security threats across the nation.
According to the alert, U.S. citizens are urged to heighten their vigilance, steer clear of large crowds, and maintain a low profile. This advisory follows a series of protests and riots targeting the United States in the aftermath of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s passing.
The embassy noted that demonstrations, especially around the July 14th Bridge in Baghdad, have escalated into violence. Consequently, Iraqi authorities have imposed restrictions on the International Zone in central Baghdad, with only limited access permitted.
Additionally, the U.S. Mission in Iraq has instructed its staff to remain in place and has temporarily halted consular services, including routine operations.
Amid these tensions, protesters have been seen navigating through tear gas during clashes with Iraqi security forces near a bridge leading to Baghdad’s Green Zone on March 1, 2026.
Iraqi airspace is currently closed, officials said, and travelers were advised to contact airlines directly for updates.
The State Department maintains a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory for Iraq, urging Americans not to travel to the country for any reason and advising those already there to review personal security plans and consider departing when conditions allow.
A group of demonstrators gather in front of the Green Zone, where the U.S. Embassy is located, in Baghdad, Iraq, to protest the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on March 1, 2026. (Murtadha Al-Sudani / Anadolu via Getty Images)
“Iran-aligned terrorist militias continue to pose a significant threat to public safety,” the U.S. embassy said in a post on X. “Reports of missiles, drones, and rockets in Iraqi airspace continue.”
The U.S. military presence in Iraq has shifted in recent years, with Iraqi officials announcing in January the formal handover of Al-Asad Air Base from U.S. forces to Iraqi control.
Protesters gather in Najaf, Iraq, on March 1, 2026, to denounce the killing of Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in U.S. and Israeli airstrikes. (Karar Essa/Anadolu/Getty Images)
The country’s defense ministry described the move as part of a broader transition toward long-term security cooperation with the United States, Britain, France, Italy, Spain and other countries, focused on training and advisory support.Â
Iraqi officials said international coalition forces are scheduled to withdraw from their headquarters in Erbil by the end of September 2026 under agreed-upon timelines.
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