The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against all but essential travel to Iraq. Travel within Iraq remains dangerous given the security situation. This Travel Warning replaces the Travel Warning dated February 25, 2013, to update information on security incidents and to remind U.S. citizens of ongoing security concerns in Iraq, including kidnapping and terrorist […]
The U.S. Embassy Baghdad is hosting two senior administrators from Stanford University from August 25 to September 3 to partner with the Government of Iraq in expanding graduate degree opportunities for Iraqi students in the United States. Under the Strategic Framework Agreement between the United States and Iraq, promoting cooperation in higher education is a […]
The Governments of the Republic of Iraq and the United States of America reaffirmed their strategic partnership during a meeting of the Political and Diplomatic Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) on August 15, in Washington, DC. This meeting, held at the Department of State, was co-chaired by Secretary Kerry and Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari. This […]
By John Lee. Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari will meet with Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday; the Daily Beast speculates that among his top requests will be for the White House to overcome objections in Congress to selling his country advanced Apache helicopters the Iraqis say they need to fight terrorists within their borders. […]
The Department of State has instructed certain U.S. Embassies and Consulates to remain closed or to suspend operations on Sunday, August 4. The Department has been apprised of information that, out of an abundance of caution and care for our employees and others who may be visiting our installations, indicates we should institute these precautionary […]
By John Lee. The government of Iraq wants to purchase nearly $2-billion worth military equipment from the United States. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified the US Congress of the following intended deals: 50 M1135 Stryker Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicles (pictured) and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated […]
The Department of State warns all U.S. citizens in Iraq of increased threats of terrorist activity throughout the coming weeks: U.S. citizens should exercise extreme caution in light of the increase in violence and use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), particularly since the beginning of Ramadan. The Department of State further strongly urges U.S. citizens […]
The new US Consul General in the Kurdistan Region, Mr Joseph Pennington, met with the KRG's Head of Foreign Relations Minister Falah Mustafa as part of his introductory meetings. He was accompanied by the outgoing Consul General, Mr Paul Sutphin, and the Head of Political/Economic Section at the US Consulate General in Erbil, Mr Stephen […]
Using 1,026 M113A2 armored personnel carriers from the U.S. Army's Excess Defense Articles obtained through the U.S. Army Security Assistance Command's Foreign Military Sales program, and the refurbishment expertise provided by an Army Materiel Command public-private partnership, provided the means for the Iraqi Army to begin standing-up its planned six-division armored capability. "This was a […]
Deputy Secretary Bill Burns (pictured) traveled June 28-30 to Baghdad, Iraq for meetings with Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki and other Iraqi leaders. These meetings allowed them to discuss the full range of bilateral and regional issues, including the ongoing crisis in Syria. In all of his meetings, the Deputy Secretary reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to […]
The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), sponsored Baghdad’s first Startup Weekend June 28-30. More than 100 young Iraqi entrepreneurs participated in the three-day event to discuss tech-oriented business ideas and how to turn the best ideas into viable companies. A panel of successful entrepreneurs judged the business […]
Statement by Secretary Kerry: UN Security Council Decision to Transfer Chapter VII Mandate to the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq: The United States congratulates the Governments of Iraq and Kuwait on successfully resolving key bilateral and international issues over the past year, which helped result in today’s milestone decision by the UN Security Council. It's […]
