By Ginika Igboke
The U.S. Embassy Baghdad has warned that Iran-backed militant groups are actively plotting attacks against American citizens and U.S.-associated targets across Iraq.
In an April 20 statement, the embassy said these groups continue to plan operations “throughout Iraq, including in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region,” and alleged that some elements within the Iraqi government are providing political, financial, and operational support to the militias.
Americans Urged to Avoid Embassy and Leave Iraq
U.S. officials have advised American citizens in Iraq to avoid visiting diplomatic facilities, including the embassy in Baghdad and the consulate in Erbil, and instead communicate via email.
The embassy also warned travelers about persistent threats in Iraqi airspace, including rockets, missiles, and drones, even as commercial flights resume following the U.S.–Iran ceasefire.
“Do not travel to Iraq for any reason. Leave now if you are there,” the embassy stated.
Kidnapping Incident Highlights Security Risks
The warning follows the March 31 abduction of American journalist Shelly Kittleson in Baghdad by the Iran-backed group Kataib Hezbollah.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on April 7 that Kittleson had been released.
Kataib Hezbollah was designated a terrorist organization by the United States in 2009. Additional Iran-aligned groups—including Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, Harakat al-Nujaba, Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya, and Kata’ib al-Imam Ali—were designated in September 2025.
According to U.S. intelligence, Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada split from Kataib Hezbollah and operates under the direction of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Rising Attacks on U.S. Targets
Tensions escalated further after a drone attack near a U.S. diplomatic facility in Baghdad. On April 9, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau summoned Iraqi Ambassador Nizar Khirullah, urging stronger protection for American personnel.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott condemned what he described as “egregious terrorist attacks” by Iran-aligned militias targeting U.S. facilities.
The embassy also reported multiple drone strikes near the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center and Baghdad International Airport.
Ongoing Conflict and Casualties
Since the start of the broader Iran conflict, dozens of people have been killed in Iraq, including civilians, security personnel, Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, and members of Iran-affiliated militias.
Shia Muslim groups, which form a majority in Iraq, have grown increasingly influential since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003 following a U.S.-led invasion.
Longstanding Tensions With Iran-Backed Forces
Iran-aligned militias have posed a persistent threat in Iraq for years. In 2020, then-President Donald Trump authorized a drone strike in Baghdad that killed IRGC commander Qassem Soleimani.
More recently, militia groups have been accused of launching attacks on U.S. bases in neighboring Syria, though some groups have denied involvement.
Following the launch of Operation Epic Fury on Feb. 28, U.S. forces have engaged in clashes with Iran-backed militias in Iraq.
Gen. Dan Caine said U.S. military operations—including Apache helicopter strikes—are aimed at suppressing threats to American forces and interests in the region.
Growing Security Concerns
The latest embassy warning highlights the increasingly volatile security environment in Iraq, with rising militia activity, ongoing regional conflict, and continued risks to U.S. citizens and personnel.