The United States Embassy in Baghdad issued a warning on Sunday about an increased risk of attacks targeting American citizens and businesses in Iraq, urging US nationals to avoid public gatherings and areas frequented by foreigners.

“The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad is aware of the increased potential for foreign terrorist organization-inspired violence or attacks against U.S. businesses and locations frequented by U.S. citizens,” the embassy said in a statement.

The embassy urged Americans in Iraq to “avoid locations frequented by foreigners and any large gatherings or crowds,” and reiterated the U.S. State Department’s Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for Iraq.

“U.S. citizens should not travel to Iraq for any reason,” the statement emphasized.

Despite heightened regional tensions due to the ongoing Iran-Israel escalation, American diplomatic missions in both Baghdad and Erbil remain “open and operating,” a US embassy spokesperson told Rudaw English on Friday.