The U.S. Department of State emphasized on Saturday that American citizens should refrain from traveling to Iraq due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, according to a statement by the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

Quoting the department, the embassy said, "U.S. citizens should not travel to Iraq for any reason."

The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed it has deployed additional military capabilities to the Middle East as tensions rise amid the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict and threats from Iran-aligned Iraqi armed groups targeting U.S. interests if Washington intervenes on behalf of Tel Aviv.

A Pentagon spokesperson told Shafaq News Agency that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed efforts to bolster U.S. Central Command’s capabilities, without disclosing the nature or locations of these reinforcements.

On Friday, the U.S. Embassy in Iraq stated there had been "no change in the operational status" of the embassy in Baghdad or the consulate in Erbil, reaffirming America’s commitment to supporting its policy priorities, Iraq’s sovereignty, and engagement with Iraqi leaders and people.

Last week, the embassy issued a security alert warning U.S. nationals of an increased risk of violence or attacks against U.S. interests in Iraq. It urged American citizens currently in Iraq to avoid areas frequented by foreigners as well as large gatherings.

The embassy said it will continue closely monitoring the security situation and provide updates as needed. The U.S. State Department still maintains a Level 4 "Do Not Travel" advisory for Iraq.

On the previous Sunday, Iraq’s Hezbollah Brigades threatened to target U.S. bases and interests in the region if the U.S. engages militarily in the war between Israel and Iran, issuing a message to both the Iraqi government and the Coordination Framework (a political alliance).

There are around 2,500 U.S. troops stationed in Iraq, primarily tasked with training and assisting Iraqi forces and the international coalition against ISIS. However, these forces have repeatedly been targeted by missile and drone attacks since 2020, which intensified after the U.S. assassinated Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

This latest U.S. stance comes amid an unprecedented escalation, as Israel and Iran exchange military strikes, raising fears of the conflict expanding into new arenas—most notably Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.