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.

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 U.S. has ordered an evacuation of non-emergency personnel from Iraq. A travel advisory has been escalated to a Level 4: Do Not Travel amid heightened regional tensions and security threats from terrorist groups targeting Western interests.

With tensions escalating across parts of the Middle East, some travellers are asking whether it’s still safe to visit Dubai. According to the latest guidance from both the UK and US governments, the answer is yes: the UAE remains open for travel,

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