In the wake of an escalation of US-Iran tensions after Iran hit two US bases in Iraq as a revenge for the killing of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani, India has advised its citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to Iraq.
“In view of the prevailing situation in Iraq, Indian nationals are advised to avoid all non-essential travel to Iraq until further notification. Indian nationals residing in Iraq are advised to be alert and may avoid travel within Iraq,” India’s External Affairs Ministry said in a tragel advisory for Indian citizens on January 8, 2020.
“Our Embassy in Baghdad and Consulate in Erbil will continue to function normally to provide all services to Indians residing in Iraq,” he said.
In a pre-dawn attack on January 7, Iran launched over a dozen ballistic missiles against its military and coalition forces at two bases in Iraq. “It is clear that these missiles were launched from Iran and targeted at least two Iraqi military bases hosting US military and coalition personnel at Al-Assad and Erbil,” US department of defence spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said.
These bases, he added, had been “on high alert due to indications that the Iranian regime planned to attack our forces and interests in the region”.
The missile attacks on the US bases were launched by Iran in retaliation for the assassination of head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC) Qassem Soleimani on January 3.
“In view of the prevailing situation in Iraq, Indian nationals are advised to avoid all non-essential travel to Iraq until further notification. Indian nationals residing in Iraq are advised to be alert and may avoid travel within Iraq,” India’s External Affairs Ministry said in a tragel advisory for Indian citizens on January 8, 2020.
“Our Embassy in Baghdad and Consulate in Erbil will continue to function normally to provide all services to Indians residing in Iraq,” he said.
In a pre-dawn attack on January 7, Iran launched over a dozen ballistic missiles against its military and coalition forces at two bases in Iraq. “It is clear that these missiles were launched from Iran and targeted at least two Iraqi military bases hosting US military and coalition personnel at Al-Assad and Erbil,” US department of defence spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said.
These bases, he added, had been “on high alert due to indications that the Iranian regime planned to attack our forces and interests in the region”.
The missile attacks on the US bases were launched by Iran in retaliation for the assassination of head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC) Qassem Soleimani on January 3.
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