The State Department has issued a rare global travel warning for Americans
The US State Department issued a rare worldwide travel advisory on Thursday, urging US citizens to “exercise increased caution” because of heightened global tensions and the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations and violence “against US citizens and interests.” The alert came as demonstrations and protests tied to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas have spread throughout the Middle East and Europe, in some cases leading to violent clashes at US diplomatic compounds. Tensions intensified on Tuesday after a deadly blast at a hospital in Gaza left Hamas and Israel trading blame. In Turkey, pro-Palestine supporters tried to enter a U.S. military base in the city of Malatya and demonstrated outside the U.S. consulate in Istanbul. On Thursday, a spokesman for Hamas called for further protests outside of American and Israeli embassies. The advisory calls on Americans to be vigilant while traveling and to stay alert at tourist sites. It also urges U.S. citizens to enroll in the government’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive information and alerts and to make it easier to be located during an emergency overseas. The worldwide caution notice was last issued in 2022 after the killing of Ayman al-Zawahri, which led the State Department to warn travelers that Al Qaeda might try to attack Americans traveling abroad. Before traveling, visitors should check the State Department’s website for country-specific guidance. The travel advisory for Israel and Lebanon was raised to the highest level this week, warning citizens not to travel to Lebanon and Gaza and to reconsider travel to Israel and the West Bank. Some U.S. government personnel were authorized to depart from those regions.<br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2023-10-20/general/the-state-department-has-issued-a-rare-global-travel-warning-for-americans
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The State Department has issued a rare global travel warning for Americans
The US State Department issued a rare worldwide travel advisory on Thursday, urging US citizens to “exercise increased caution” because of heightened global tensions and the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations and violence “against US citizens and interests.” The alert came as demonstrations and protests tied to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas have spread throughout the Middle East and Europe, in some cases leading to violent clashes at US diplomatic compounds. Tensions intensified on Tuesday after a deadly blast at a hospital in Gaza left Hamas and Israel trading blame. In Turkey, pro-Palestine supporters tried to enter a U.S. military base in the city of Malatya and demonstrated outside the U.S. consulate in Istanbul. On Thursday, a spokesman for Hamas called for further protests outside of American and Israeli embassies. The advisory calls on Americans to be vigilant while traveling and to stay alert at tourist sites. It also urges U.S. citizens to enroll in the government’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive information and alerts and to make it easier to be located during an emergency overseas. The worldwide caution notice was last issued in 2022 after the killing of Ayman al-Zawahri, which led the State Department to warn travelers that Al Qaeda might try to attack Americans traveling abroad. Before traveling, visitors should check the State Department’s website for country-specific guidance. The travel advisory for Israel and Lebanon was raised to the highest level this week, warning citizens not to travel to Lebanon and Gaza and to reconsider travel to Israel and the West Bank. Some U.S. government personnel were authorized to depart from those regions.<br/>
