US State Department Issues Worldwide Caution Alert Amid Heightened Tensions
In response to the escalating tensions and potential threats around the world, the US State Department has advised all US citizens worldwide to exercise increased caution. The advisory comes as protests have erupted throughout the Middle East in response to the Israel-Hamas war, with many demonstrators targeting US diplomatic compounds.
According to State Department spokesperson Matt Miller, the decision to issue a worldwide alert takes into consideration a number of factors. “It’s not necessarily any one thing but everything that we’re watching around the world,” Miller said during a briefing.
In light of the situation, the State Department has raised the Travel Advisory for Lebanon and Israel to the highest level and has authorized the departure of non-emergency US government personnel and their family members. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has also ordered diplomatic posts worldwide to conduct emergency security reviews.
This is the first worldwide alert issued by the State Department since August 2022, following the killing of al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. The alert warned of potential attacks on US facilities, personnel, or citizens by supporters of al-Qaeda or its affiliated organizations.
The advisory urges US citizens abroad to stay alert in locations frequented by tourists and to enroll in the State Department’s “Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)” to receive information and alerts and make it easier to locate them in an emergency overseas.
Retired senior State Department official Todd Brown, who worked in diplomatic security for over 30 years, expressed concern over the current threat situation surrounding the Israel-Hamas war. “Emotions and the temperature is as high as I can ever imagine it has been,” Brown told CNN.
Brown also warned that the threat of escalation isn’t confined to the Middle East and could spread to Europe as anger over the Israeli government’s actions towards Gaza grows. He advised people to carefully consider their travel plans and not assume that everything is safe, even in European capitals.
US embassies will be evaluating their security posture and may call in additional security personnel, such as Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team (FAST) Marines. They may also request additional security from the host government. The State Department will also consider authorizing or ordering the departure of personnel and their family members from embassies, particularly in places like Jordan, Egypt, and Iraq.
The decision to withdraw personnel is based on factors such as the spread of diplomats’ housing and whether children are allowed at the diplomatic post. According to Brown, the safety of people in harm’s way is the priority, although the optics of withdrawing personnel do come into play to some extent.
Additionally, the State Department will consider restricting the movement of diplomats within a country for safety reasons, with some diplomatic posts already having these restrictions in place.
“This is one I think is really, really concerning, and no doubt everybody’s got their eye on the ball closely here,” Brown said.
As tensions continue to rise and potential threats loom, the US State Department is taking necessary precautions to ensure the safety and security of US citizens abroad.