Baghdad rejects attacks on military bases hosting coalition forces

BAGHDAD - Iraq's government said on Monday it rejected attacks on military bases hosting international coalition advisers and the prime minister has ordered security forces to pursue the perpetrators, a military spokesman said.

The announcement came after a recent spike in rocket and drones attacks against Iraq military bases that host US and other international forces. 

The US State Department said on Sunday US citizens should not travel to Iraq after recent attacks on American troops and personnel in the region.

The travel advisory says, "Do not travel to Iraq due to terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, civil unrest, and Mission Iraq’s limited capacity to provide support to US citizens."

There has been a spike in attacks against US forces in Iraq and Syria since the conflict between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza broke out. Last week, a US warship shot down more than a dozen drones and four cruise missiles fired by Iranian-backed Houthis from Yemen.

The advisory followed the ordered departure of eligible family members and non-emergency US government personnel from US Embassy Baghdad and US Consulate General Erbil "due to increased security threats against US personnel and interests," the State Department said in a statement.

The statement added that anti-US militias "threaten US citizens and international companies" throughout Iraq. Earlier on Sunday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said they saw the prospect of a significant escalation in attacks on American troops in the Middle East and of Iran seeking to widen the Israel-Hamas war.