The U.S. State Department issued a “worldwide caution” travel advisory on Thursday, warning American citizens to be aware in various locations as threats of terrorist attacks and other dangerous situations have increased.
“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,” the advisory reads.
U.S. officials last issued the rare alert in August 2022 in response to the killing of al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, warning that “supporters of al-Qa’ida, or its affiliated terrorist organizations, may seek to attack US facilities, personnel, or citizens.”
The State Department raised its travel advisory for Lebanon to “Level 4: Do Not Travel” on Tuesday to reflect the authorized departure of family members of government personnel and some non-emergency personnel on a case-by-case basis.
“Do Not travel to Lebanon due to the unpredictable security situation related to rocket, missile, and artillery exchanges between Israel and Hizballah or other armed militant factions,” the advisory reads. “Reconsider travel to Lebanon due to terrorism, civil unrest, armed conflict, crime, kidnapping, and Embassy Beirut’s limited capacity to provide support to U.S. citizens.”
Multiple countries have alerted their citizens inside Lebanon to evacuate immediately as an Iranian-backed terrorist organization ramps up its attacks on Israel’s northern border.
Israeli officials are concerned that Hezbollah — estimated to have approximately 20,000 soldiers — is preparing to launch a full-scale attack on Israel’s northern border. The terrorist group has about 150,000 rockets in its arsenal, which could easily dwarf the recent rocket attacks launched by Hamas.
Countries that have told their citizens to vacate Lebanon include the United States, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Canada, France, Kuwait, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and Australia.
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The U.S. embassy in Lebanon reportedly said, “terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Lebanon,” signaling that such attacks could erupt “with little or no warning targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities.”
Protesters in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, and Tunisia staged violent demonstrations outside Israeli, French, and U.S. embassies this week after legacy media outlets propagated debunked claims that an Israeli airstrike killed nearly 500 people inside a Gaza hospital.
On U.S. soil, more than 300 protesters with Jewish Voice for Peace and IfNotNow were arrested on Wednesday for crowding, obstructing, or incommoding in a forbidden area inside a U.S. House office building in Washington D.C on Capitol Hill, according to USA Today. Capitol Police have since ticketed and released those who were detained.
Ryan Saavedra and Virginia Kruta contributed to this report.