The US Embassy in Iraq has issued a serious security alert. It is reported that Iran and its affiliated organizations may target universities in Iraq as well as across the region that are affiliated with the US. The embassy has informed on social media that the situation may worsen in cities like Baghdad, Sulaimaniya and Dohuk. America has advised its citizens to leave Iraq immediately due to security reasons.
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Why have Iran’s Revolutionary Guards threatened?
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has clearly said that they can target all those universities in the region which have links with America or Israel. Iran has demanded the US to condemn the attacks on Iranian universities. IRGC has advised professors, students and staff working in these institutions to maintain a distance of at least one kilometer from the campus to avoid any untoward incident.
What will be its impact on Gulf countries and Indians?
The impact of this security warning is not limited to Iraq only, but it also casts a shadow on American institutions running in countries like Qatar and UAE. Concerns have also been raised about large institutions like Texas A&M in Qatar and New York University in the UAE. The American University of Beirut in Lebanon has already shifted its classes online. Indian expatriates living in Gulf countries and students studying there need to be careful in view of the current situation.
Name of the institution Location Current status American University Baghdad, Sulaimaniya, Dohuk On high alert Texas A&M University Qatar Potential threat New York University UAE Potential threat American University of Beirut Lebanon Online studies started
The US State Department continues its ‘Level 4: Do Not Travel’ warning for Iraq. The embassy says that the Iraqi government has not been completely successful in stopping terrorist attacks against America from its soil. In such a situation, foreign citizens living there have been advised to avoid going near embassies because there is a danger of drone and missile attacks.