Iraq
A general view of the US embassy complex in the Iraqi capital Baghdad on January 3, 2020. File photo: AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The United States embassy in Baghdad on Thursday reiterated a high-level travel warning to American citizens in Iraq, urging them to leave the country “now” and cautioning that Iran-aligned Iraqi armed groups could carry out “attacks in central Baghdad” within the next two days. The renewed warning follows the recent abduction of an American journalist in the Iraqi capital.
In a statement on X, the embassy warned that “Iran-aligned Iraqi terrorist militia groups may intend to conduct attacks in central Baghdad within the next 24 to 48 hours,” adding that Tehran and these groups “have carried out widespread attacks against U.S. citizens and [US-]linked targets” across Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
The embassy warned that these armed groups may target American “citizens, businesses, universities, diplomatic facilities, energy infrastructure, hotels, airports, and other locations perceived to be associated with the United States, as well as Iraqi institutions and civilian targets.” It added that such “militias” have “targeted Americans for kidnapping” and urged US citizens to “leave Iraq now.”
The renewed warning comes shortly after American journalist Shelly Kittleson was abducted in broad daylight on Tuesday on Saadoun Street in central Baghdad. Reports from Iraqi security officials and surveillance footage showed four men in civilian clothes kidnapping her near the Palestine Hotel, triggering a high-speed pursuit by security forces.
An eyewitness at the scene told Rudaw that “three people surrounded her [Kittleson] and one of them grabbed her from behind.” Mohammed Abdullah added, “she kept screaming, then the second person came closer and she was trapped between them. The driver then started the car and took her. We don’t know where they took her.”
— Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) April 1, 2026Kittleson’s abduction quickly prompted international reactions, with the US State Department announcing it is working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to locate and rescue her.
Dylan Johnson, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs, confirmed the abduction on social media, stating that “an individual with ties to the Iranian-aligned militia group Kata’ib Hezbollah believed to be involved in the kidnapping has been taken into custody by Iraqi authorities.”
A second US official, speaking to Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said the journalist “had been warned multiple times, including as late as Monday night, that she was in danger and should leave Iraq immediately.”
Of note, the US embassy in Baghdad on Thursday stated that the Iraqi government has “not prevented terrorist attacks in or from Iraqi territory,” warning that Iran-aligned armed groups “may claim to be associated with the Iraqi government” and could “carry identification indicating they are Iraqi government employees” while carrying out attacks.
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