The U.S. Embassy is located in the IZ in Baghdad. The IZ is a restricted access area. As of June 30, 2009, Iraqi authorities assumed responsibility for control of the IZ. Travelers to the IZ should be aware that Iraqi authorities may require special identification to enter the IZ or may issue IZ-specific access badges. Some terrorist or extremist groups continue to target U.S. citizens for kidnapping, including within the IZ. Individuals residing and traveling within the IZ should continue to exercise good personal safety precautions.
The U.S. government considers the potential threat to U.S. government personnel in Iraq to be serious enough to require them to live and work under strict security guidelines. All U.S. government employees under the authority of the U.S. Ambassador must follow strict safety procedures when traveling outside the Embassy. State Department guidance to U.S. businesses in Iraq advises the use of protective security details. Detailed security information is available at the U.S. Embassy website at http://iraq.usembassy.gov/.
The U.S. Embassy provides services to the general public, including U.S. citizens, in Iraq. The ability of the U.S. Embassy to provide services to U.S. citizens throughout Iraq, including Baghdad, is particularly limited given the security environment. U.S. citizens who choose to visit or reside in Iraq despite this Travel Warning are urged to take responsibility for their own personal security and belongings (including their U.S. passports) and to avoid crowds, especially rallies or demonstrations. U.S. citizens who choose to travel in Iraq should be aware that Iraqi authorities have arrested or detained U.S. citizens whose purpose of travel is not readily apparent. The Government of Iraq is strictly enforcing requirements regarding visas and stamps for
entry and exit; vehicle registration; authorizations for weapons and movements through checkpoints, as well as other matters. This list is subject to revision. The Embassy highly recommends that all U.S. citizens in Iraq carefully review the status of their government documents and any necessary licenses and government authorizations to ensure that they are current and valid. U.S. citizens are urged to immediately correct any deficiencies in their government documents. U.S. citizens are strongly advised against traveling throughout the country with deficient or invalid documents. Persons also have been detained for taking photographs of buildings or other scenic sites, especially in the IZ in Baghdad.
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