<span style="color: #222222;">In a travel advisory issued as a security on Friday, the United States Embassy in Baghdad has asked all American citizens to leave Iraq immediately, due to heightened tensions in Iraq and the region.<br />''<br />''The advisory says that US citizens should depart via airline as far as possible, and failing that, to other countries via land. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Due to Iranian-backed militia attacks at the US Embassy compound, all public consular operations are suspended until further notice.  US citizens should not approach the Embassy. The US Consulate General in Erbil is open for visa and American Citizen Services appointments, including passport issuance.<br />''<br />''The advisory further stated that US citizens in Iraq or those concerned about family in Iraq should contact the Department of State at 1-202-501-4444 or toll-free in the U.S. at 1-888-407-4747.</span><br />