The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad decided to suspend consular operations and cancel all planned events due to riots and protests that took place near the building of the embassy since December 31.

The U.S. citizens are advised not to approach the American embassy in Baghdad and to contact consulate in Erbil for visa issues.

Protest actions were staged near the embassy on December 31 due to an attack which claimed 25 lives. The U.S. air forces attacked the camp of a Shiite group. Protesters broke into the territory of the diplomatic mission, setting a fire there. On January 1, the protesters were dispersed with tear gas.

US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said he was forced to postpone his trip to Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, as well as to Ukraine and Cyprus due to the situation in Iraq. According to the diplomat, the Iranian authorities are behind the organization of the attack on the American embassy.