The State Department has issued a new warning to U.S. citizens abroad, urging them to be more careful in light of the global tensions caused by the Isreal-Hamas ensuing war.
The new advisory, issued on Thursday, said that U.S. citizens overseas should “exercise increased caution” because of the possibility of terrorist attacks, demonstrations, or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests in various locations around the world.
The department also advised Americans overseas to “stay alert in locations frequented by tourists.”
Some African countries, such as Niger, Libya, South Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso and Central Africa Republic, were given the highest level of travel alert (Do not travel).
Nigeria was among the countries with the third level of travel alert (Reconsider to travel), with the State Department highlighting Adamawa, Bauchi, Kogi, Yobe, Borno, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna, Gombe, Kano and Katsina as areas of concern.
The last time the department issued a similar warning was in August 2022, after the U.S. killed al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in a counterterrorism strike in Afghanistan.
At that time, U.S. officials warned that “supporters of al- Qa’ida, or its affiliated terrorist organizations, may seek to attack U.S. facilities, personnel, or citizens.”
Meanwhile, the State Department has asked its embassies and consulates around the world to conduct emergency security reviews amid ongoing protests sparked by the fighting.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken also instructed personnel to evaluate whether embassies should issue alerts to Americans in their respective countries about potential threats posed by the demonstrations, as many have already done.
