US State Department has issued a ‘worldwide caution’ travel alert

Information reaching Kossyderrickent has it that US State Department has issued a ‘worldwide caution’ travel alert. 

Countries such as Russia, China, North Korea, Israel, and Lebanon have their travel advisories raised to the highest level.

The state department also authorised non-emergency US government personnel and family members to depart the named countries.

African countries with the highest levels of travel alerts (Level 4: Do not travel) include Niger, Libya, South Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Central African Republic.

The US state department made the announcement in a statement on Thursday.

The issuance of the rare worldwide caution alert comes as protests and casualties continue to rise in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war.

“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 advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution,” the statement reads.

The State Department last issued a worldwide alert in August 2022 in the wake of the killing of al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, warning that “supporters of al- Qa’ida, or its affiliated terrorist organizations, may seek to attack U.S. facilities, personnel, or citizens.”

The notice issued Thursday advises 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 you in an emergency overseas.”

Todd Brown, a retired senior State Department official who worked in diplomatic security for more than 30 years, said the potential threat situation around the Israel-Hamas war “surpasses anything I have seen before in the lease with the potential to get even worse.”

“Emotions and the temperature is as high as I can ever imagine it has been,” he told CNN earlier Thursday.

Brown said the threat of escalation “isn’t just confined to the Middle East,” but could also spread to Europe as anger over the Israeli government’s actions towards Gaza grows.