The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad has issued an urgent directive for American citizens in Iraq to shelter in place due to escalating security threats and violent riots and demonstrations against the United States. These protests, particularly near the July 14th Bridge, have led to the closure of Baghdad's International Zone. The embassy has also instructed all staff to shelter in place and suspended consular services. The State Department maintains a Level 4 "Do Not Travel" advisory for Iraq, citing ongoing threats from Iran-aligned terrorist militias and reports of missiles, drones, and rockets in Iraqi airspace. This comes as the U.S. military presence in Iraq continues to transition, with formal handovers of bases like Al-Asad Air Base to Iraqi control.