The US State Department has issued a Level 4 travel advisory, the highest severity classification, strongly advising American citizens against all travel to Iraq. The advisory cites significant safety concerns,

"Do not travel to Iraq due to terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, civil unrest, and the U.S. government’s limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Iraq. Do not travel to Iraq for any reason," the travel warning stated on Wednesday, June 11.

Iraq has approached the Iranian and US governments in a bid to prevent being caught up in a regional escalation, officials said yesterday, as

The State Department says Americans should not visit the country for any reason as terrorism, kidnapping concerns rise.

THE Philippine Embassy in Baghdad has advised Filipinos in Iraq to avoid any unnecessary trips as tensions in the Middle East rise.

The price of oil initially increased more than 4% when news of the US evacuation broke, in anticipation of regional insecurity potentially leading to supply problems. Around 2,500 US troops are based in Iraq, according to the defence department.