With Pope in Iraq, US embassy warns of increased attack risk
Mar 5, 2021 senior correspondent
On the same day that Pope Francis arrived in Iraq for his most risky foreign trip yet, the United States Embassy in Baghdad issued a warning to all Americans in the area of increased attacks by militant groups targeting westerners.
ROME – On the same day that Pope Francis arrived in Iraq for his riskiest foreign trip yet, the United States Embassy in Baghdad issued a warning to all Americans in the area of increased attacks by militant groups targeting Westerners.
In a March 5 security alert, the US embassy to Iraq reminded citizens that “extremist groups and regional actors have conducted destructive and sometimes lethal attacks against a variety of targets.” The alert doesn’t reference the pope’s trip, but it appeared the same day he arrived.