‘Americans face risk of kidnapping,’ US ambassador to Iraq warns
The US Embassy in Baghdad has warned Americans in Iraq of a heightened risk of kidnapping and attacks, saying Iran and Iran-aligned militia groups pose a ‘significant threat’ to public safety as the Middle East war intensifies.
In a security alert posted on its website on Thursday, the embassy said there have already been “attacks against U.S. citizens, U.S. interests, and critical infrastructure,” adding, “Americans also face risk of kidnapping.”
The warning comes a week after Washington urged its nationals to leave Iraq, after the United States launched strikes with Israel against Iran on February 28, triggering a wider regional conflict that has threatened US-linked interests across the Middle East.
The alert was issued as fighting continued on multiple fronts. Iranian state television reported heavy explosions in central Tehran on Friday, while the Israeli military warned residents in two Tehran neighbourhoods to evacuate ahead of strikes.
In Oman, state media said two people were killed after security forces intercepted a drone in an industrial area, with others injured.
The embassy did not provide specific details of any new kidnapping plot, but urged US citizens to remain alert and monitor official updates as security conditions change quickly.
Iraq hosts US diplomatic facilities and American personnel, and has long been a focal point for tensions between Washington and Tehran-linked armed groups, a risk that analysts say tends to rise during periods of regional escalation.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
