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US Embassy in Baghdad urges Americans to shelter in place amid threats

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The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on Monday urged Americans in Iraq to shelter in place until further notice, citing increasing security threats across the country.

In its warning, the Embassy advised US citizens to be more careful, avoid crowds and not to attract attention during the ongoing riots and demonstrations against the USA following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

He said protests, particularly near the 14 of July Bridge in Baghdad, turned violent, prompting Iraqi authorities to close the International District in central Baghdad with limited exceptions.

The U.S. Mission in Iraq also ordered all staff to shelter in place and suspended consular operations, including routine services.

Protesters march with tear gas during clashes with Iraqi security forces near a bridge leading to the Green Zone in Baghdad on March 1, 2026. (via Ahmad Al-Rubaye/AFP/ Getty Images)

Officials said Iraqi airspace is currently closed and passengers are advised to contact airlines directly for updates.

The State Department maintains a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory for Iraq; He urges Americans not to travel to the country for any reason and advises those already there to review their personal safety plans and consider leaving when conditions allow.

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Protesters gathered with posters and flags in front of the Green Zone in Baghdad.

A group of demonstrators gathered in front of the Green Zone, where the US Embassy is located, in Baghdad, Iraq, to protest the killing of Iran’s religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on March 1, 2026. (Murtadha Al-Sudani / Anatolia via Getty Images)

“Iran-linked terrorist militias continue to pose a significant threat to public safety,” the US embassy said in a post on X. “There continue to be reports of missiles, drones and rockets in Iraqi airspace.”

The US military presence in Iraq has shifted in recent years, with Iraqi officials announcing in January that Al-Assad Air Base had been officially transferred from US forces to Iraqi control.

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Hundreds of demonstrators march in Najaf, waving Iranian flags and carrying portraits during the protest.

Protesters gather in Najaf, Iraq, on March 1, 2026, to condemn the killing of Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US and Israeli airstrikes. (Decision Essa/Anadolu/Getty Images)

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The country’s defense ministry described the move as part of a broader shift towards long-term security cooperation focused on training and advisory support with the United States, Britain, France, Italy, Spain and other countries.

Iraqi officials said that international coalition forces are planned to withdraw from their headquarters in Erbil by the end of September 2026, within the framework of the agreed upon timetable.