Amid rising global tensions, the U.S. State Department has issued a worldwide advisory to Americans to exercise caution when traveling abroad.
The advisory, issued on Thursday, warned Americans that hostilities have increased in various parts of the world, including in Eastern Europe, where Ukraine and Russia have been involved in an ongoing conflict for more than a year, and the Middle East, where Israel has declared war against Hamas, a terrorist organization which launched devastating attacks against the nation earlier this month.
The State Department advisory warned that there is a “potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests,” and advised U.S. citizens overseas to “exercise increased caution.”
Americans abroad were encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) which sends out alerts and information and makes it easier for the State Department to locate enrolled individuals in the event of an emergency.
In a comment provided to USA TODAY, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said that the department has “no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas.” The spokesperson added, “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.”
On Tuesday, the department raised the travel advisory for Lebanon to Level 4, warning Americans not to travel to the area due to “the unpredictable security situation related to rocket, missile, and artillery exchanges between Israel and Hizballah or other armed militant factions.”
“Terrorists may conduct attacks with little or no warning targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities,” the State Department warned in the advisory. “The Lebanese government cannot guarantee the protection of U.S. citizens against sudden outbreaks of violence.”
TPUSA previously reported that “Protests have taken place across the U.S. following Palestinian terror organization Hamas’ invasion of Israel earlier this month, which left 1,400 people dead, including 32 Americans, and 3,500 injured.”
