Overview
- The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad warned on March 6 that Americans should depart Iraq if safe, avoid hotels and public venues, and shelter in place if they cannot leave.
- Commercial flights from Iraq and Iran were not operating at the time of the alerts, with Americans advised to consider overland routes and prepare for sudden changes to borders and airspace.
- The U.S. Virtual Embassy Iran cautioned on March 7 that Americans, including dual nationals, face heightened risks of questioning, arrest or detention, and may encounter restrictions on departure.
- The State Department says it has run more than a dozen charters, organized ground transport and 24/7 crisis operations, and has been contacting citizens through STEP and crisis intake forms, including for options from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Oman.
- Reuters reported late approvals and nonstandard social-media announcements for embassy drawdowns, while a State Department letter highlighted nearly 28,000 returns and noted that about one in three offered government transport declined.