Topline
The U.S. State Department issued guidance Thursday warning Americans traveling internationally to take extra precautions given the “potential for violence and increased tensions” as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East enters its third week.
Key Facts
The State Department issued a “worldwide caution” alert Thursday due to “increased tensions” around the world, recommending Americans exercise “increased caution due to the potential for violence.”
Officials also urged Americans to stay alert at popular tourist destinations and enroll in the department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, commonly known as STEP, to receive alerts and information about potential emergencies overseas.
On Thursday, the department urged all Americans to leave Lebanon because of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
News Peg
It’s been nearly two weeks since Hamas, a Gaza-based militant group, launched an attack on Israel killing more than 1,300 Israelis. That prompted Israel to declare war on Hamas which resulted in more than 3,000 Palestinians being killed and thousands more being injured. At least 30 American citizens have been killed in the conflict, officials told the New York Times.
Key Background
There have been a number of incidents around the world that officials have linked to or said could potentially be linked to the ongoing Middle East conflict. Three French airports, the Palace of Versaille and the Louvre were all evacuated after officials said there were security concerns at those locations. The surge in evacuations followed the killing of a teacher in northern France on Friday committed by a suspected Isalmist extremist, according to the Associated Press. In the U.S, a 71-year-old man was accused of stabbing a six-year-old Muslim boy and his mother in Illinois. The child was killed and his mother was seriously wounded in the attack, and police said the pair was targeted for their Muslim faith. The Justice Department is now investigating the case as a federal hate crime. On Thursday, Attorney General Merrick Garland warned U.S. attorneys across the country to watch for threats against Jewish, Muslim and Arab communities across the country in light of the ongoing fighting in the Middle East.
Further Reading
3 French Airports, Palace Of Versailles Evacuated In Latest Security Alerts (Associated Press)