The U.S. Department of State issued a “worldwide caution” to all Americans traveling abroad on Thursday. It urged them to stay alert due to heightened tensions in various locations, potential terrorist attacks and violent actions against U.S. citizens. The caution is in response to the ongoing the war between Israel and Hamas.
Americans traveling abroad were advised to stay alert in locations frequented by tourists, enroll in the Smart Travel Enrollment Program to stay updated and follow the State Department on Facebook and Twitter.
Full Coverage: U.S. Travel Caution FAQ – What the State Department Advice Means for Travelers
On Tuesday, the U.S. advised Americans to avoid travel all to Lebanon. On October 14, the U.S. advised Americans to reconsider travel to Israel due to terrorism and civil unrest.
The U.S. has four advisory levels for countries based on how safe and secure they are for U.S. travelers:
- Level 4: Do Not Travel. U.S. travelers should not travel there because it’s very dangerous. Lebanon is now under this level.
- Level 3: Reconsider Travel. U.S. Travelers should avoid traveling to this area due to safety and security risks. Israel is now under this level.
- Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. American traveling to this area should be aware of heightened risks.
- Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. This is the lowest level in terms of safety and security risks to U.S. travelers.
The U.S. government is facilitating charter flight transportation for U.S. on a rolling basis at Ben Gurion International Airport through at least Sunday, October 22.
Tags: israel, middle east, state department, tourism