Turkey re-issues travel warning on Iraq

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry yesterday re-issued a travel warning on Iraq which it first made in December 2015 as an operation to oust Daesh from Mosul continues.

In a statement, the ministry said last December’s advice applied to all of Iraq except the provinces of Dohuk, Erbil and Sulaymaniyah which are controlled by the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG).

The ministry said in light of the recent offensive to re-take Mosul, Iraq’s general security situation would deteriorate and cause acts targeting Turkey’s interests in the country.

Turkish nationals were advised to be “vigilant in all circumstances, avoid crowded places, to strengthen security measures and be in contact with the Baghdad embassy”.

It urged those “whose stay is not compulsory to leave the provinces as soon as possible” and advised against traveling to Iraq “unless it is absolutely necessary”.

The statement advised Turkish nationals in the KRG to stay away from regions where the anti-Daesh operation is ongoing.

A broad military campaign aimed at retaking Mosul entered its second day yesterday with more losses sustained by the Daesh terrorist group.