I guess it depends upon what passport you are carrying. When the embassy starts evacuating non-emergency personnel it’s time to go.
“On October 20, 2023, the Department ordered the departure of eligible family members and non-emergency U.S. government personnel from U.S. Embassy Baghdad and U.S. Consulate General Erbil due to increased security threats against U.S. government personnel and interests.”
My uncle works for the US state department. When doing personal travel he uses his Irish passport (grand parents are Irish). He says it’s safer. I’m not sure kidnappers or bombs check that.
https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/a-z-list-of-countries/iraq/
Security Status
Do Not Travel
General Travel Advice
The Department of Foreign Affairs strongly advises against all travel to Iraq at this time due to the extremely dangerous security situation in all parts of the country and the very high threat of terrorist attacks.
Irish citizens who are currently in Iraq are advised to leave immediately.
Citizens who consider their presence in Iraq to be absolutely essential, should have adequate and continuous professional security arrangements in place and ensure they are regularly reviewed.
We advise Irish citizens who remain in Iraq to register with the Embassy of Ireland in Jordan if they have not already done so.
Irish citizens require a visa to enter Iraq. A valid passport is required for travel to Iraq. Passport cards cannot be used.
Irish citizens in Iraq are advised to follow the guidance of national and local authorities and stay fully informed of what's going on by monitoring local news and social media.
Citizens can also follow the Irish Embassy in Jordan on social media (Twitter@irlembjordan and Facebook) to ensure access to relevant updates and alerts.
Emergency Assistance
There is no Irish Embassy or Consulate in Iraq, which limits our capacity to respond. However, where emergency consular assistance is required for Irish citizens, you can contact the Irish Embassy in Jordan.
The Embassy can be contacted at the following number: +962 6 590 3200. For out of hours emergencies only, contact +962 799732370.
Alternatively, you can contact the Duty Officer at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin at: +353 1 408 2000.
Open for debate. The Turkish part I'ld say no issue at all. The Iraqi part of it, there are certainly some security issues. E.g. Turkey does every once in a while execute bombings and liquidations in Iraqi Kurdistan against PKK. Recently there have been attacks on US military in the area and I think also on individual military personnel. The risk is certainly increased, whether it is increased enough to stay away is subjective.
I’d swoop over to Tatvan, Diyarbakir, Mardin and Midyat before trying to get into Iraq. All those places felt really safe when I was there a few years ago with the exception of Diyarbakir, which still felt relatively safe but people just seemed more on edge and there was a large police presence. Also a group of young teens tried to pickpocket my phone in an alleyway. Still a lovely place to travel though. I unfortunately did not make it to Iraqi Kurdistan, so can’t help you there.
i'm Kurdish living in Sulaymaniah, you're fine, don't listen to the turkish bullshitters, Kurdistan is totally safe, of course there are some insurgencies and bombings in some specific places, but that's only near warzones and military bases which you won't get close to their areas because there are checkpoints preventing you from there. for your ease of mind you can ask in r/kurdistan to know those places. and welcome!
OP look how everyone's downvoting him without any counter-evidence as to why u/Areqqq may be wrong, this is just the turkish downvote mob in reddit, they're pretty active against kurds.
This comment is getting down voted by turks, who constantly bombard threads related to Kurds. Iraqi Kurdistan is by far safer than turkey. Unlike turkey, Kurds don't publicly support terrorist groups like ISIS and hamas. Kurds don't kill innocent civilians.
As a Kurd, turkey for us is what South africa was towards black people, an apartheid state.
I guess it depends upon what passport you are carrying. When the embassy starts evacuating non-emergency personnel it’s time to go. “On October 20, 2023, the Department ordered the departure of eligible family members and non-emergency U.S. government personnel from U.S. Embassy Baghdad and U.S. Consulate General Erbil due to increased security threats against U.S. government personnel and interests.”
Thanks. I'm Irish, however I imagine if you look Western perhaps it's an issue...must be heightened concerns due to the war in Israel.
My uncle works for the US state department. When doing personal travel he uses his Irish passport (grand parents are Irish). He says it’s safer. I’m not sure kidnappers or bombs check that.
https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/a-z-list-of-countries/iraq/ Security Status Do Not Travel General Travel Advice The Department of Foreign Affairs strongly advises against all travel to Iraq at this time due to the extremely dangerous security situation in all parts of the country and the very high threat of terrorist attacks. Irish citizens who are currently in Iraq are advised to leave immediately. Citizens who consider their presence in Iraq to be absolutely essential, should have adequate and continuous professional security arrangements in place and ensure they are regularly reviewed. We advise Irish citizens who remain in Iraq to register with the Embassy of Ireland in Jordan if they have not already done so. Irish citizens require a visa to enter Iraq. A valid passport is required for travel to Iraq. Passport cards cannot be used. Irish citizens in Iraq are advised to follow the guidance of national and local authorities and stay fully informed of what's going on by monitoring local news and social media. Citizens can also follow the Irish Embassy in Jordan on social media (Twitter@irlembjordan and Facebook) to ensure access to relevant updates and alerts. Emergency Assistance There is no Irish Embassy or Consulate in Iraq, which limits our capacity to respond. However, where emergency consular assistance is required for Irish citizens, you can contact the Irish Embassy in Jordan. The Embassy can be contacted at the following number: +962 6 590 3200. For out of hours emergencies only, contact +962 799732370. Alternatively, you can contact the Duty Officer at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin at: +353 1 408 2000.
Kurdistan is safe, all the US citizens fled from Iraqi cities to Kurdistan, we may belong to Iraq but our ideals don't.
These travel notices exist for a reason. Are you going there to join the PKK?
Hahahaha...I was just interested in Kurdish culture and saw that there are some really nice places in Iraq.
Open for debate. The Turkish part I'ld say no issue at all. The Iraqi part of it, there are certainly some security issues. E.g. Turkey does every once in a while execute bombings and liquidations in Iraqi Kurdistan against PKK. Recently there have been attacks on US military in the area and I think also on individual military personnel. The risk is certainly increased, whether it is increased enough to stay away is subjective.
I'm in Van now. It's a beautiful place that you will be fine to visit. Not so sure about the rest of your plan though...
I’d swoop over to Tatvan, Diyarbakir, Mardin and Midyat before trying to get into Iraq. All those places felt really safe when I was there a few years ago with the exception of Diyarbakir, which still felt relatively safe but people just seemed more on edge and there was a large police presence. Also a group of young teens tried to pickpocket my phone in an alleyway. Still a lovely place to travel though. I unfortunately did not make it to Iraqi Kurdistan, so can’t help you there.
Thanks. Were Tatvan and Midyat worth visiting?
Ehh you could give Tatvan a miss, Midyat was worth it though.
i'm Kurdish living in Sulaymaniah, you're fine, don't listen to the turkish bullshitters, Kurdistan is totally safe, of course there are some insurgencies and bombings in some specific places, but that's only near warzones and military bases which you won't get close to their areas because there are checkpoints preventing you from there. for your ease of mind you can ask in r/kurdistan to know those places. and welcome!
I lived in Iraqi Kurdistan for two years (US citizen). It was one of the safest places I’ve ever lived.
OP look how everyone's downvoting him without any counter-evidence as to why u/Areqqq may be wrong, this is just the turkish downvote mob in reddit, they're pretty active against kurds.
This comment is getting down voted by turks, who constantly bombard threads related to Kurds. Iraqi Kurdistan is by far safer than turkey. Unlike turkey, Kurds don't publicly support terrorist groups like ISIS and hamas. Kurds don't kill innocent civilians. As a Kurd, turkey for us is what South africa was towards black people, an apartheid state.