Türkiye warns its citizens against traveling to Iraq except “extremely necessary”

Türkiye called on its citizens to avoid traveling to Iraq except in cases of extreme necessity, against the backdrop of rapid changes in security conditions.

This came in a statement issued by the Turkish Embassy in Baghdad yesterday, Friday, according to the Turkish Anatolia News Agency.

The statement stated that the security conditions in Iraq may change rapidly for the worse during the coming period.

The statement called on Turkish citizens to avoid large gatherings, public squares, and protest areas around the Green Zone in Baghdad, and not to go to Baghdad and Erbil international airports and their neighboring areas.

He also called on them to avoid places frequently visited by foreigners, in addition to open spaces and residential areas in Mosul and its surrounding areas, and the areas surrounding Basra.

The statement also called for avoiding presence in the vicinity of military areas throughout Iraq, and vital infrastructure sites such as oil fields.

He stressed the need for Turkish citizens to take the utmost care for personal safety during their presence in Iraq.

The Turkish embassy statement indicated that Iraqi airspace is closed to flights due to continuing clashes and attacks in the region, and that the airspace will not be opened before March 16.