U.S. Embassy Baghdad Issues 24-48 Hour Attack Warning as Iraqi Airspace Closes; Americans Directed to Depart by Land
The Embassy directed all U.S. citizens in Iraq to leave immediately via available overland routes to Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, or Türkiye.
BAGHDAD — The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad issued a security alert on April 2 stating that Iran-aligned Iraqi militia groups may intend to carry out attacks in central Baghdad within the next 24-48 hours. Iraqi airspace is closed and commercial flights are not operating out of Iraq.
The Embassy directed all U.S. citizens in Iraq to leave immediately via available overland routes to Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, or Türkiye.
Iran and its aligned militia groups have conducted widespread attacks against U.S. citizens and targets associated with the United States throughout Iraq, including in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region (IKR), according to the Embassy. All routine consular services at the U.S. Embassy Baghdad and the Consulate General in Erbil are suspended.
Some Embassy staff have been placed on ordered departure while the U.S. Mission in Iraq continues to operate. The Embassy noted that U.S. citizens choosing to remain in Iraq are doing so at significant risk.
The April 2 alert represents an escalation from a March 29 security alert in which Iran was identified as directing threats specifically at American universities in Baghdad, Sulaymaniyah, and Dohuk.
The April 2 alert broadened the threat to all U.S.-associated targets in central Baghdad and added a specific 24-48 hour attack window.
Attack Warning: 24-48 Hour Window and Target Categories
The U.S. Embassy Baghdad security alert said: “Iraqi terrorist militia groups aligned with Iran may intend to conduct attacks in central Baghdad in the next 24-48 hours.” The following target categories were identified in the alert:
U.S. citizens, businesses, and universities
Diplomatic facilities
Energy infrastructure
Hotels and airports
Other locations perceived to be associated with the United States
Iraqi institutions and civilian targets
The alert noted that militia groups have targeted Americans for kidnapping, according to the U.S. Embassy Baghdad. The warning extends across all of Iraq, including the IKR.
Assessment: The target categories span both official and civilian U.S. presence, indicating the threat environment does not distinguish between diplomatic personnel and private U.S. nationals. The explicit citation of kidnapping as a tactic represents a distinct risk category from the mass-casualty scenarios associated with rocket and drone fire, requiring different protective measures for any U.S. nationals currently in-country.
Iraqi Airspace Closed; Overland Departure Routes Available
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