U.S. Issues Alert Amid Israel-Hamas Conflict
The U.S. State Department issued a “worldwide caution” alert on Thursday for U.S. citizens abroad amid escalating tension over the Israel-Hamas war.
The alert advises U.S. citizens to “exercise increased caution” due to “the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests.”
Protests broke out at U.S. and Israeli embassies worldwide, including those in Tunisia, Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon, and Morocco, after a deadly hospital blast in Gaza City killed hundreds on Tuesday.
Israeli and Palestinian officials traded accusations over who was responsible for the devastating explosion.
State Department’s “Worldwide Caution” Alert Amid Israel-Hamas Conflict
President Biden backed Israel’s denial of responsibility for the blast and stated that U.S. military data showed that Gaza militants were culpable.
Since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, the U.S. State Department has raised the advisory level for travel in Israel and the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. On Thursday, the department issued a “do not travel” alert for Lebanon, which borders Israel to the north.
Worldwide Caution: 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 @StateDept advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased… pic.twitter.com/waIpqmWu2m
— Travel – State Dept (@TravelGov) October 19, 2023
The State Department has issued 15 worldwide alerts in the last decade. The most recent alert before Thursday’s was issued in 2022 after the death of al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, amid fears of retaliatory anti-American violence.
With information from CBS News
