Bahrain warning

The United States State Department warns U.S. citizens of the potential for political and civil unrest in progress at Bahrain. We urge us citizens to consider carefully their need to travel to Bahrain, taking into account the security and political climate described below. March 17, 2011, the State Department authorized the voluntary departure of dependants and employees of non-emergency Bahrain; dependents Embassy who left does not revert to Bahrain until this condition. The Embassy is open and operating normally. This travel warning replaces the travel warning dated March 22, 2011, to revise our advice to us citizens considering to go to Bahrain and update the information on the current situation. All travellers from Bahrain has increased scrutiny of the Bahraini authorities, and Bahrain Government refused to allow some citizens Americans permission to enter the Bahrain. The airport remains open and operational and is regarded as transit safely. Although there is a return seeming normalcy in daily life, the situation in the Bahrain remains fluid, with active security operations continues in various parts of the country. Spontaneous events continue to occur in certain districts and resulted in violent clashes between demonstrators and security forces. Some of these clashes have resulted in serious injury or death. It continues to be a military army presence, including tanks and armoured vehicles armoured, the streets of Manama and surrounding areas. Official government control points have been established in some parts of the country, and they are inhabited by the police / soldiers with ammunition lethal. There have been reports confirmed firearms in Manama and other areas of the Bahrain. With a presence of increased security in the streets, most shops and businesses reopened. Even if the daily routine is back to normal, there remains the possibility that spontaneous violence may erupt, or movements in and around Bahrain could become dangerous with little notice. The Embassy of the United States restricted the travel of its employees during the night and advises all Americans to do the same. We continue to urge us citizens to avoid travel to specific regions of the Bahrain. Please see our notice of demonstration for the latest information. While the demonstrations were not directed to Westerners, US citizens are requested to stay alert developments at the premises of security and be vigilant about their personal safety. The U.S. Department of State urges us citizens to avoid all manifestations, such as those same Pacific can quickly become unruly and a foreigner could become a target of harassment or worse. There is no indication that US citizens are threatened or targeted. Embassy in Manama United States can be reached at (973) 1724-2700; emergency after hours number is (973) 1724-2957; the fax number is (973) 1725-6242. Demonstration notices found on the website of the Embassy. U.S. citizens who require emergency consular assistance may contact the Department via our Web site by visiting the site of the "Situation in the Middle East and North Africa". Bahrain American citizens are encouraged to register in the registration of traveller Smart (STEP) program. U.S. citizens without internet access may register directly to the Embassy of the United States. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in an emergency. Up-to-date information on travel and security in the Bahrain can be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 without charge to the United States and the Canada or, for the appellants outside the United States and the Canada, on a regular line toll free at 1-202-501-4444. For more information, please visit Bahrain country-specific information, as well as the warning around the world. ?You can also stay up-to-date by a bookmark to our Office of Consular Affairs website, which contains also other current warnings travel and travel alerts. Follow us on Twitter and the page of the Bureau of Consular Affairs on facebook as well.

Iraq warning

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks inherent in travel to Iraq and recommends against all but essential travel to the country given the dangerous security situation. Civilian air and road travel within Iraq remains dangerous. This Travel Warning replaces the Travel Warning dated November 5, 2010, to update information and to remind U.S. citizens of ongoing security concerns for U.S. citizens in Iraq, including kidnapping and terrorist violence. The United States has reduced the number of U.S. military forces in Iraq and ended the combat mission there on August 31, 2010. Consistent with agreements between the two countries, the United States is scheduled to complete its withdrawal of military forces from Iraq by the end of 2011. Some regions within Iraq have experienced fewer violent incidents than others in recent years, in particular the Iraqi Kurdistan Region (IKR). However, violence and threats against U.S. citizens persist and no region should be considered safe from dangerous conditions. Attacks against military and civilian targets throughout Iraq continued, including in the International (or "Green") Zone (IZ). Methods of attack have included magnetic bombs placed on vehicles, roadside improvised explosive devices (SEDI); mortars and rockets. human-and vehicle-borne SEDI, including Explosively Formed Penetrators (EFPs); mines placed on gold concealed near roads; suicide attacks; and shootings. Numerous insurgent groups remain active throughout Iraq. Although Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) operations against these groups continues, attacks against the ISF and U.S. forces persist in many areas of the country. U.S. citizens in Iraq remain at a high risk for kidnapping. The most recent confirmed kidnapping of a U.S. citizen reported to the U.S. Embassy occurred in January 2010 in Baghdad.? While sectarian and terrorist violence occurs at levels lower than in previous years, it occurs often, particularly in the provinces of Baghdad, Ninewa, Salah ad Din, Anbar and Diyala. The security situation in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region (IKR), which includes the provinces of Sulymaniya, Erbil, and Dohuk, has been more stable relative to the rest of Iraq in recent years, but threats remain. U.S. Government staff in northern Iraq are required to be accompanied by a protective security detail when traveling outside of secure facilities. Although there have been significantly fewer terrorist attacks and lower levels of insurgent violence in the IKR than in other parts of Iraq, the security situation throughout the country remains dangerous.? The Turkish military continued to carry out operations against elements of the Kongra-Gel terrorist group (KGK, formerly Kurdistan Workers' Party or PKK) located along Iraq's northern border. Additionally, extensive unmarked minefields remain along the international border. The Governments of Turkey and Iran continues to carry out military operations against insurgent groups in the mountain regions. These operations have included troop movements and both aerial and artillery bombardments. U.S. citizens should avoid areas near the Turkish or Iranian border due to these ongoing military operations. The U.S. Embassy has limited resources to assist U.S. citizens who venture close to or cross the border with Iran. Travelers using commercial carriers to enter or departure Iraq should be aware that, although there have been no. recent attacks on civilian aircraft, the potential threat still exists, as does a high risk to road travelers as described above. U.S. Government personal, with limited exceptions, are generally required to use official aircraft when entering or departing Iraq. Infrequent indirect fire attacks have impacted on or near the Baghdad and Basrah airports. There has been no. reported damage or injuries to commercial operations or personal.? The U.S. Embassy is located in the International Zone (IZ) in Baghdad. The IZ is a restricted access area. As of June 30, 2009, Iraqi authorities assumed responsibility for control of the IZ. Travelers to the IZ should be aware that Iraqi authorities may require special identification to enter the IZ or may issue IZ-specific access badges. Some terrorist or extremist groups continue to target U.S. citizens for kidnapping. Individuals residing and traveling within the IZ should continue to exercise good personal safety precautions. The U.S. Government considers the potential threat to U.S. Government personnel in Iraq to be serious enough to require them to live and work under strict security guidelines. All U.S. Government employees under the authority of the U.S. Ambassador must travel in groups of two or more within the IZ and carry a working cell phone or radio when exiting the U.S. Embassy compound. U.S. Government personal require special permission and a protective security detail at all times when traveling outside the IZ and outside secure facilities, and may be prohibited from traveling to certain areas of Iraq based on prevailing security conditions. State Department guidance to U.S. businesses in Iraq advises the use of protective security details. Detailed security information is available at the U.S. Embassy website at http://iraq.usembassy.gov and at the U.S. Central Command website at http://www.centcom.mil. The U.S. Embassy provides services to the general public, including U.S. citizens, in Iraq. The ability of the U.S. Embassy to provide services to U.S. citizens outside Baghdad is particularly limited given the security environment. U.S. citizens who choose to visit or residing in Iraq despite this Travel Warning are urged to take responsibility for their own personal security and belongings (including their U.S. passports) and to avoid crowds, especially rallies or demonstrations. U.S. citizens who choose to travel in Iraq should be aware that Iraqi authorities have arrested or detained U.S. citizens whose purpose of travel is not readily apparent. Persons also have been detained for taking photographs of buildings or other scenic sites. All U.S. citizens in Iraq, including those working on contract for the U.S. Government, are urged to inform the U.S. Embassy of their presence in Iraq by enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) in order to obtain updated travel information. By enrolling, U.S. citizens make it easier for the Embassy to provide updated security information or to contact them in emergencies. U.S. citizens may obtain the latest security information or other information about Iraq by contacting the U.S. Embassy, located in the International Zone, via email, landline (from U.S. dial 1-240-553-0581 Ext. 4293 gold 2413) or by accessing U.S. Embassy Baghdad's website at http://iraq.usembassy.gov. The after-hours emergency numbers are 011-964-770-443-1286 (from the United States) or 0770-443-1286 (within Iraq). As cell phone service is unreliable in Iraq, emergency calls may also be placed through the Department of State at 1-888-407-4747. Current information on travel and security in Iraq may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or, for callers from other areas, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8: 00 a.m. to 8: 00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). For further information, please consult the Country Specific Information for Iraq, as well as the Worldwide Caution, both of which are available on www.travel.state.gov.