The US State Department issued a “worldwide caution” security alert on Monday, warning citizens of the “potential for demonstrations” against Americans and US interests abroad.
“The conflict between Israel and Iran has resulted in disruptions to travel and periodic closure of airspace across the Middle East,” the alert added. “The Department of State advises US citizens worldwide to exercise increased caution.”
Security personnel were instructed this weekend to review and report back to the State Department on the security posture at US embassies and consulates across the region following the airstrikes early Sunday morning on three top Iranian nuclear facilities.
The US doubled the number of emergency evacuation flights for Americans wishing to leave Israel, although facilitating those flights has become a complex endeavor due to the closure of Israeli airspace.
Non-essential staff at the US Embassy in Lebanon have been ordered to leave as well, “due to the volatile and predictable security situation in the region.”
The US is continuing to draw down non-essential personnel in the consulates in Baghdad and Erbil as well. “As part of our ongoing effort to streamline operations, additional personnel departed Iraq on June 21 and 22,” the State Department said. “These departures represent a continuation of the process started on June 12.”
The moves come in response to concerns that Iran will attack US interests in the region following the American airstrikes this weekend.
US citizens in Saudi Arabia were advised to take extra precautions: “Given reports of regional hostilities, the US Mission to Saudi Arabia has advised its personnel to exercise increased caution and limit non-essential travel to any military installations in the region,” the notice read.
US personnel in Turkey were likewise cautioned to “maintain a low profile” and instructed to “avoid personal travel to the US Consulate Adana consular district,” where the NATO airbase at Incirlik is located. “Negative sentiment toward US foreign policy may prompt actions against US or Western interests in Turkey,” the notice warned.
The State Department maintains an interactive global Travel Advisories Map for travelers.
The State Department issued Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisories for the “West Bank” (Palestinian Authority, Judea and Samaria), Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Iran, and Yemen.
A Level 3 “Reconsider Travel” advisory has been in place for Egypt since October 15, 2024.
A Level 2 “Exercise Increased Caution” advisory has been in place for Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Algeria since last year.
