U.S. Updates Iraq Travel Advisory, Keeps Level 4 'Do Not Travel' and Cites Rising Houthi Threat
Why It MattersA sustained Level 4 rating with civil-aviation risk flagged in and near Iraq keeps insurers and trip planners treating Iraqi airspace and airports as high-risk for business-jet operations.
The U.S. Department of State updated its Travel Advisory for Iraq on October 23, 2026, and the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad published it on October 24. The advisory remains at Level 4: Do Not Travel, citing terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, crime, health risks, and the U.S. government's limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Iraq. There were no changes to the advisory level or risk indicators. The summary was updated to reflect an increased potential for armed attacks by the Iranian-supported Houthis, who have engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia.
The advisory states that U.S. government personnel in Iraq must live and work under strict security protocols, that U.S. government employees need special authorization to travel to Iraq, and that further staffing adjustments may be imposed. It warns that U.S. citizens face high risks of violence and kidnapping, and that ISIS and Iran-aligned militias encourage and conduct attacks against U.S. persons and interests. Attacks using improvised explosive devices, indirect fire, and unmanned aerial vehicles occur in many areas, including major cities.
On health, the advisory says emergency and intensive care facilities are limited and likely unavailable outside the largest cities, and that transportation, road and safety problems, along with risks to civil aviation in or near Iraq, can delay medical evacuation. It urges U.S. citizens in Iraq to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), to have an emergency exit plan that does not rely on U.S. government help, to establish a personal security plan, and to buy travel insurance covering evacuation, medical care and trip cancellation.
