The U.S. has renewed its warning for Americans to reconsider travel to the Middle East, citing escalating tensions and a complex security environment. The State Department issued an alert Friday emphasizing that Saudi Arabia is not safe for Americans, particularly following a recent ballistic missile attack by Iranian-backed Houthis targeting the kingdom.
“Due to high tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation,” the government stated in the alert. "Americans should reconsider any travel to Saudi Arabia and reconsider travel to/through the Middle East."
Saudi Arabia has been under a Level 3 travel advisory, one step below a "do not travel" warning, since March. At that time, the State Department ordered non-emergency U.S. government employees and their families to leave the country. The advisory cited risks including "risk of Iranian drone and missile targeting of American interests, armed conflict, terrorism, exit bans, and local laws regarding social media activity."
A Level 4 "do not travel" advisory for Iran, Iraq, and Israel has been in place for months. The renewed caution for Saudi Arabia follows an incident where the Houthis fired a ballistic missile at the kingdom’s airport, which was intercepted without causing damage.
These advisories come as diplomatic tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to worsen. On Saturday, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi announced that Tehran has suspended its commitments to a recent memorandum of understanding, claiming the U.S. violated its own commitments. "We have … suspended our commitments, we are not implementing them, and we are busy defending the country,” Gharibabadi said.