United States Issues Worldwide Travel Alert Amid Escalating Conflicts

The United States has advised it citizens worldwide “to exercise increased caution” when travelling due rising conflicts.

The US State Department issued the alert on Thursday due to “increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, (and) demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests”.

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It comes as protests erupt in the Middle East in response to the Israel-Hamas war, with many demonstrators targeting US diplomatic compounds.

US State Department spokesperson Matt Miller said “we take a number of factors into consideration when making that determination” to issue a worldwide alert.

“It’s not necessarily any one thing but everything that we’re watching around the world,” he said.

Travel advisory to Israel and Lebanon has also been risen to its highest level, with the department authorising non-emergency US government workers and their families to leave.

US citizens overseas are advised to “stay alert in locations frequented by tourists” and to enrol into the Smart Traveller Enrolment Program to receive information and alerts.

It also makes it easier to track citizens if they find themselves in an emergency overseas.

The last time the US State Department issued a similar warning was in August 2022 following the death of al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri by the US military.

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