The U.S. State Department issued a worldwide travel caution, urging Americans everywhere to exercise increased caution after an Iranian attack killed two U.S. service members in Jordan. Officials warned that groups supportive of Iran could target Americans and U.S. interests far beyond the Middle East, and that flight cancellations and airspace closures may disrupt travel.
The State Department told Americans worldwide to exercise increased caution on Saturday, a day after an Iranian attack killed two U.S. service members in Jordan. It described the security environment as "complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation".
Why the caution went worldwide
Officials said that groups supportive of Iran may target U.S. interests overseas or locations associated with Americans throughout the world. Iran has vowed to retaliate against resumed U.S. strikes on its air defense, missile and drone sites. Separately, four more American service members were medically evacuated after the Jordan attack. The alert has been in place since February, Fox News reported, but the department reiterated it as the conflict escalated.
Airports and airspace under threat
The caution warned that flight cancellations and periodic airspace closures may cause travel disruptions. Jordanian authorities evacuated Aqaba’s international airport over a specific threat, while Kuwait International Airport has been hit by Iranian missiles and drones on multiple occasions. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has also attempted attacks on Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan.
Months of mounting risk
Since March, the State Department has maintained an ordered departure for non-emergency personnel and their families in Jordan, and the U.S. Embassy in Amman issued its own alert after the Aqaba evacuations. The advisory stops short of barring international travel, but it urges Americans to keep a low profile and enroll in the department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.
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