Centre asks Indians to avoid travel to Iraq amid US-Iran tensions

Soon after news of Iran launching over a dozen missiles at US bases in Iraq broke, the ministry of External Affairs issued an advisory asking Indian nationals to avoid travelling to Iraq until further notice in view of the current situation.

In a tweet, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Raveesh Kumar, advised the Indian nationals to avoid all the 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," he tweeted.

He further added that "our Embassy in Baghdad and Consulate in Erbil will continue to function normally to provide all services to Indians residing in Iraq."

Travel Advisory for 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.1/2

— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) January 8, 2020

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) also held meetings with airlines and asked them to remain vigilant and take all necessary precautions.

"We had held meetings with the concerned airlines and have sensitised them to remain vigilant and take all precautions," the regulatory body said.

The development came after more than a dozen missiles were launched in the early hours of Wednesday targeting at least two Iraqi military bases hosting US military and coalition personnel at Al-Assad and Irbil, in Iraq. Iran's Tasmin News Agency, however, said that over 35 rockets were launched by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the early hours of Wednesday.

At least 80 "American terrorists" were killed in attacks on two US bases in Iraq on Wednesday, according to Iranian state media. The report also said that none of the missiles were intercepted.