U.S. embassy in Iraq reports threat against Baghdad hotels

(Reuters/IraqiNews.com) The U.S. embassy in Baghdad said on Monday it has limited the movement of its personnel after receiving “credible threats of possible attacks on hotels frequented by Westerners”.

“As a reminder, U.S. citizens should maintain a heightened sense of security awareness and take appropriate measures to enhance their personal security at all times when living and working in Iraq,” an emergency security message for U.S. citizens on the embassy’s website said.

It did not give details on the nature of threat.

U.S. authorities advise citizens to avoid traveling to Iraq citing the risk of being kidnapped by armed political groups or criminal gangs and bombings by the group Islamic State.

Three defense contractors kidnapped in January 2016 in Baghdad and released a month later were the first Americans kidnapped in Iraq since U.S. troops pulled out in 2011.

Iraq is one of seven majority-Muslim countries that are subject to U.S. President Donald Trump’s temporary travel ban, which Baghdad has said is unfair.

Violence surged in Iraq with the emergence of Islamic State militants who took over large areas of the country in 2014. Baghdad has been witnessing almost daily bombings targeting civilians and security personnel.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) said violence in the country left 19000 casualties in nine months of 2016.