Is it safe to travel abroad right now? Worldwide caution issued after US strikes on Iran
The State Department is urging Americans to be careful abroad, after this weekend's U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
'There is the potential for demonstrations against U.S. citizens and interests abroad,' according to a security alert issued Sunday. Protests against U.S. involvement in the conflict have already erupted domestically and overseas. The Department of State advises U.S. citizens worldwide to exercise increased caution.'
The State Department has issued other worldwide cautions in recent years, including May 2024, when it warned of potential threats to LGBTQ+ travelers, and October 2023, amid the Israel-Hamas war.
Here's what travelers should know this time.
Is it safe to travel the world right now?
Generally, yes. The worldwide caution is exactly that: general advice.
However, there are a host of destinations the State Department urges Americans not to visit due to safety concerns, which can be found on the travel area of its website. Those include Iran and Israel, as well as places like Ukraine, Somalia and more.
Earlier this month, the State Department authorized the departures of family members of U.S. government employees and select non-emergency U.S. government employees in Israel. The State Department also helped U.S. citizens leave Israel, but notes Iranian air space is closed and U.S. citizens hoping to leave Iran should go by land, when they feel it's safe to do so.
Sunday's worldwide caution noted that travel may be disrupted across the Middle East due to the 'conflict between Israel and Iran."
'Don't know how we should behave': Is the US South LGBTQ friendly?
How do you stay safe while traveling?
Safety starts at home. Before departing, travelers are urged to research their destinations and check the State Department's country-specific travel advisories and security alerts.
Travelers are also encouraged to enroll in the State Department's free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) so they can receive embassy messages and alerts and be more easily located in the event of an emergency. Preparing a list of emergency contacts and an independent exit strategy is also helpful, since the U.S. government may not always be able to assist in evacuations.
While abroad, travelers are encouraged to be aware of their surroundings and monitor local news for updates if a crisis or disaster arises.
Additional tips and a Traveler's Checklist are available on the State Department's website.
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