SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The U.S. embassy to Iraq warned on Friday of possible attacks that might target airports and government facilities without warning.
The U.S. embassy issued a security alert on Friday, saying attacks may occur “with little or no warning”, impacting airports, tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets and shopping malls, and local government facilities.
The embassy further said Western facilities and placed frequented by U.S. citizens and other foreign people could also be targeted.
“There is a threat of drone and missile attacks impacting on civilian and other targets in Iraq,” the embassy said.
“Violence associated with Iran-supported groups represents a significant threat,” it added. “U.S. citizens living and working near military bases and critical civilian infrastructure are at heightened risk of impacts from missile and drone attacks. U.S. citizens should remain alert in case of additional attacks.”
Iranian-backed militia groups in Iraq have intermittently targeted bases hosting U.S.-led Coalition troops and Baghdad’s Green Zone which houses government and diplomatic offices.
The embassy’s warning comes as Pope Francis is visiting Iraq for a four-day trip, starting on Friday.
The 84-year-old will visit four cities, including the former Islamic State (ISIS) stronghold of Mosul, where churches and other buildings still bear the scars of conflict.
Francis will also visit Ur, birthplace of the prophet Abraham who is revered by Christians, Muslims and Jews, and meet Iraq’s top Shia Muslim cleric, 90-year-old Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.
The Iraqi government has already beefed up security in the country, with deploying thousands of additional security personnel to protect the pope during his visit.
A senior security official who has been briefed on the security plan told Reuters that forces involved had been trained to deal with worst-case scenarios, from street battles to bombings and rocket attacks.
Interior ministry special forces and the army will set up a security cordon around the pope wherever he goes, while the air force will operate drones around the clock to monitor the routes he will take, Reuters reported.
There will be an explosives team and counter-terrorism personnel on standby in case of any suspicious devices or street battles.
Undercover intelligence and national security officers will also be deployed at gatherings attended by the pope, said the source, who declined to be named while discussing security matters.
A technical team can also jam or cut off suspicious phone calls or radio communications, he added.
