The State Department issued a global travel alert on Thursday, warning Americans of increased safety risks following the start of the Israel-Hamas war.
The rare worldwide alert stopped short of telling Americans not to travel, but warning of increased caution for citizens in any other country.
U.S. citizens traveling abroad are urged to "exercise increased caution" in light of the heightened global tensions spurred by Hamas' terror attack on Israel and the unfolding Israel-Hamas war, the State Department said in a new advisory on Thursday. https://t.co/zPk6L1SfEc
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) October 19, 2023
"Due to increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests, the Department of State advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution," officials said, according to ABC News.
"The last time the department issued such a warning was in August 2022, following the counterterrorism strike in Afghanistan that killed al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri," it added.
We haven’t seen a global warning for American travelers in over a year: State Department issues worldwide travel warning for US | The Independent https://t.co/vWNESYbIOe
— Frank Figliuzzi (@FrankFigliuzzi1) October 19, 2023
"The move came in the wake of Joe Biden's visit to Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the IDF continues its military response in Gaza. On 7 October, Hamas launched an attack that killed approximately 2,000 Israelis," the Independent reported.
"The IDF launched a response attack shortly after that has displaced more than a million Palestinians and killed more than 3,785 Gazans, according to the Gaza health ministry's data," it added.
The State Department has issued a "Worldwide Caution" advisory for American travelers citing "increased tensions" and "the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests."https://t.co/IxlfZHp0NT
— Spencer Brown (@itsSpencerBrown) October 19, 2023
"Thursday's worldwide alert, however, expanded the call for caution beyond the usual countries where wars, terrorism, internal conflict, rampant organized crime, or hostage-taking pose threats to Americans," Townhall reported.
"Now, it suggests there's a discussion of the potential for attacks in other countries in which Americans have typically been safe," it noted.
The State Department also called for all Americans to leave Lebanon, a nation on the northern border of Israel where Hezbollah terrorists are located.
The militant group has already fired some shots over the border into Israel, with concerns that the Iranian proxy could launch a major war on a second front against Israel.
The war may be thousands of miles away but the impact it touching Americans traveling internationally all over the world in the aftermath of the violence.
