The US State Department has issued a Level 4 travel advisory, the highest severity classification, strongly advising American citizens against all travel to Iraq. New, updated story - State Department Issues Do Not Travel Warning For Israel 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.

The announcement reflects a serious reassessment of the security situation in Iraq. The Department of State issued a stark warning, advising U.S. citizens not to travel to Iraq “for any reason” due to persistent threats including terrorism,

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.

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