The State Department on Thursday issued a “worldwide caution” order for Americans traveling abroad due to the potential for terrorist attacks.
“Due to increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests, the Department of State advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution,” the alert reads.
The alert did not mention a single event that prompted officials to urge caution, but it comes as the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has seen tensions flare up across the globe.
Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, launching thousands of missiles across the border. Israel responded with its own strikes, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring that his country is at war and cutting off supplies of food, fuel, electricity and medicine to Gaza.
The conflict has sparked concerns of unrest as pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian advocates clash over the decades-long conflict. Protests erupted across the Middle East following the conflict’s escalation that have at times turned violent.
In Lebanon, for instance, security forces fired tear gas and water cannons at protesters who allegedly threw projectiles near the United States embassy in Beirut, the country’s capital, according to a report from Reuters.
The State Department has also in recent days raised their travel advisory to Lebanon, urging Americans not to travel there due to “the unpredictable security situation related to rocket, missile, and artillery exchanges between Israel and Hizballah or other armed militant factions.”
A former Hamas chief called for a “Day of Jihad” earlier in October, and the State Department has discouraged travel to several Middle Eastern countries.
The protests have not been limited to the Middle East, though. Protesters have also clashed across Europe, with a protest in Berlin, Germany, leaving at least 65 police officers injured, Politico reported.
State Department Issues Guidance on Staying Safe Abroad
The State Department’s advisory on Thursday listed a number of actions Americans can take while traveling across the globe during this period of potential unrest.
Americans abroad are advised to stay alert in areas frequented by tourists, to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program and to follow the State Department on social media, according to the alert.
The travel alert only requests that Americans exercise regular safety precautions while traveling. It does not reach the State Department’s higher-level advisories that urge Americans to reconsider traveling.
A State Department spokesperson told Newsweek that U.S. citizens should consult specific country’s travel advisories before traveling.
“The U.S. Department of State has no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas. We take seriously our commitment to provide U.S. citizens with clear, timely, and reliable information about every country in the world so they can make informed travel decisions,” the spokesperson said.
Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment via email.
A Delta Airlines passenger jet taxis at John F. Kennedy International Airport on September 24, 2017. President Joe Biden’s administration on Thursday issued a worldwide travel alert warning of the potential for terror attacks and violence against U.S. citizens. Robert Alexander/Getty Images
Update 10/19/2023 4:16 p.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from the U.S. Department of State.
Is It Safe to Travel? Biden Admin Issues Alert on Possible Terror Attacks
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