By Daniel Edu
The United States has issued a worldwide travel alert, urging its citizens traveling abroad to exercise increased caution due to heightened global tensions triggered by Hamas’ recent terror attack on Israel and the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
The State Department, in a new advisory, stated, “Due to increased tensions in various locations around the world and the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations, or violence against U.S. citizens and interests, the Department of State advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution.”
The advisory also emphasized the need for Americans abroad to stay vigilant, especially in locations commonly visited by tourists.
A number of African countries received the highest level of travel alerts, classifying them as “Do not travel,” including Niger, Libya, South Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, and the Central African Republic.
Nigeria, on the other hand, was placed under the third-tier caution alert, labeled as “Reconsider travel.” The State Department highlighted specific states in Nigeria, including Adamawa, Bauchi, Kogi, Yobe, Borno, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna, Gombe, Kano, and Katsina.
This travel alert comes as a response to the ongoing tensions and security concerns resulting from global events, including the Israel-Hamas conflict. The last time the State Department issued such a warning was in August 2022 following a counterterrorism strike in Afghanistan.
Separately, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has directed U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide to conduct emergency security reviews due to the protests stemming from the ongoing conflict. The reviews are intended to assess whether alerts should be issued to Americans in their respective countries regarding potential threats arising from these demonstrations. While some embassies have asked the State Department to modify their operations due to security concerns, there have been no requests for authorized departures or full evacuations at this time.
