It stood to reason that the ongoing dust-up between the United States and Israel against Iran (with some new possible allies thinking about jumping in on the side of, you know, civilization) would spill out of Iran's boundaries. And just to the west of Iran is Iraq, where a lot of the locals are supporting Iran - a remarkable change considering the long, violent, and adversarial history those two countries have.
But things are growing unsettled, what with Iran's leadership being disassembled by the suitable application of high explosives, and now the United States Embassy in Baghdad is cautioning Americans in Iraq to shelter in place.
The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on Monday urged Americans in Iraq to shelter in place until further notice, citing heightened security threats across the country.
In an alert, the embassy advised U.S. citizens to exercise increased caution, avoid crowds and keep a low profile amid ongoing riots and demonstrations against the United States following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
It said protests, particularly near the July 14th Bridge in Baghdad, have turned violent, prompting Iraqi authorities to close the International Zone in central Baghdad with limited exceptions.
Air travel to and from Iraq has also been shut down, and the State Department has issued a travel advisory.
Iraqi airspace is currently closed, officials said, and travelers were advised to contact airlines directly for updates.
The State Department maintains a Level 4 "Do Not Travel" advisory for Iraq, urging Americans not to travel to the country for any reason and advising those already there to review personal security plans and consider departing when conditions allow.
"Iran-aligned terrorist militias continue to pose a significant threat to public safety," the U.S. embassy said in a post on X. "Reports of missiles, drones, and rockets in Iraqi airspace continue."
I'm not sure why anyone from the United States would want to travel to Iraq in any case; I've seen bits of southern Iraq, mostly along the border with Kuwait, and I didn't find it to be impressive. Also, traveling to a place where a fair number of the locals walk around muttering "death to America" doesn't seem like a smart idea. Still, some people have family in the area, and some may be required to travel for their occupation.
Read More: CENTCOM Presents Latest Laundry List of Iranian Lies
The Telling Factor in the Iran Conflict Is How That Nation Has Become Isolated Globally
Yes, we have known for some time that there is a significant presence of pro-Iran "militias," which is that region's code-speak for "terrorist goblins" in Iraq. It's anything but surprising; Iraq is 60 to 65 percent Shiite, and Iran's theocracy is Shiite. Also, the two countries have a long, porous border, much of it in what passes for wilderness in that part of the world. It's difficult but not impossible to breach that border; I know someone who did it in 1979, although that's a story I can't tell because of who this friend is and what he was doing in Iran in 1979.
For any Americans still in Iraq, sheltering in place is probably the best option, until the option "Git while the gittin's good" arises.
Editor's Note: For decades, former presidents have been all talk and no action. Now, Donald Trump is eliminating the threat from Iran once and for all.
Help us report the truth about the Trump administration’s decisive actions to keep Americans safe and bring peace to the world. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your VIP membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member