The US has warned its citizens not to travel to Iraq ‘for any reason’.

In a written statement from the US State Department, it was reminded that non-essential government personnel have been instructed to leave their country. In the statement, the recommendation to travel to Iraq was downgraded to level 4, which means ‘Do not travel’ and a red warning was given. The statement, which cited ‘terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflicts, civil unrest and the US government's limited ability to provide necessary emergency services to its citizens in Iraq’ as justification for the decision, warned ‘Do not travel to Iraq for any reason’.

“There is a risk of terrorist violence, terrorist attacks and other activities in Iraq,” the statement said, adding that US government personnel in Iraq are expected to live and work under tight security conditions.