Iraq prevents Iraqis and tourists from traveling to northern Iraq

The Iraqi government decided to prevent Iraqis and foreign tourists from traveling to northern Iraq, and justified this move by saying that U.S. and Israeli agents hang around freely in the area.

The department of tourism issued orders to travel agencies to stop organizing trips to Arbil, Dahuk and the Kurdish Sulaymaniyah governorates, which are not under to the government's control.

The head of the tourism department, Abdul Karim Meki, said, "The situation in the north is exceptional, and the existence of American and Zionist agents there makes the area unstable and unsecured."

The embargo applied only to tourists, and those who have relatives or legitimate commercial interests in the area can still travel to it. Most of the Iraqi visitors who travel to northern Iraq are citizens from central and southern Iraq who are escaping the summer heat or who seek vacations.

Travel agents in Baghdad said that thousands of Iraqis recorded trips to the northern region this summer, while foreign tourists rarely visit Iraq.