US travel warnings updated over Iran threat

The U.S. State Department has updated travel advisories for Americans, warning them to reconsider traveling to additional Middle Eastern countries as the conflict in the region continues.

The State Department has updated Level 3 travel advisories for both Oman and Saudi Arabia, meaning Americans are advised to change their travel plans and avoid going to the two countries.

Why It Matters

Since the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iranian military and strategic sites on February 28, travel updates have warned of the risks associated with visiting the Middle East. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in the attack, prompting swift retaliatory strikes on U.S. bases across the Middle East—an escalation that amplified days after both nations had engaged in diplomatic talks aimed at avoiding conflict.

As a result of the ongoing conflict, the State Department has issued travel alerts across the region, with Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Jordan and a number of others receiving Level 3 or 4 advisories.

Firefighters try to extinguish flames at the site of a direct hit by an Iranian missile strike in Holon, central Israel, on March 13.

Saudi Arabia Travel Warning

On March 13, the State Department updated the existing Level 3 travel advisory for Saudi Arabia, warning Americans to reconsider travel to the Kingdom because of the “risk of Iranian drone and missile targeting of American interests, armed conflict, terrorism, exit bans, and local laws regarding social media activity.”

The department said that following the “onset of hostilities between the United States and Iran on February 28, there has been an ongoing threat of drone and missile attacks from Iran. Commercial flights are operational from Saudi Arabia though have been significantly disrupted.”

On March 8, the Department of State had ordered nonemergency U.S. government employees and U.S. government employee family members to leave Saudi Arabia because of safety risks, after initially authorizing their evacuation on March 3.

Certain areas are associated with higher risks, and Americans have been told not to travel to the Yemen border because of the threat of terrorism.

U.S. government employees working in Saudi Arabia have been told they are not allowed to travel within 20 miles of the Yemen border because of safety risks, and that they should not go to Qatif for nonofficial travel. American citizens in the country are advised to follow the same guidance.

The department added in the advisory that the U.S. government had “limited ability to offer emergency services to U.S. citizens in Saudi Arabia due to the safety risks.“

Oman Travel Warning

On March 13, the State Department updated the information on its Level 3 advisory for Oman, saying Americans should reconsider travel to the country because of the “risk of armed conflict and terrorism.”

On the same day, the department ordered nonemergency U.S. government employees and U.S. government employee family members to leave Oman over safety risks, following the start of the conflict in the region.

Americans have been explicitly told not to travel to the Yemen border area because of terrorism and armed conflict. “Crossing the Oman-Yemen border can be dangerous. Americans who attempt to cross the border, from either Oman or Yemen, may be detained by Omani authorities,” the department warned.

“Terrorism is a concern in Oman. Attacks can occur with little or no warning, especially around holidays. They can involve knives, firearms, and vehicles,” the State Department wrote in its advisory.

It added that potential targets included government facilities; important political, cultural or religious locations; places visited by U.S. citizens and other foreigners; tourist locations and large gatherings; transportation hubs; markets and shopping malls; and entertainment venues.

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