The US is urging Americans to reconsider traveling to the Middle East as war with Iran continues to escalate in the Gulf region.
The State Department warned Friday that Saudi Arabia in particular is not safe for Americans after the Iranian-backed Houthis terror fired a ballistic missile at Saudi Arabia.
“Due to high tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation,” the government said in an 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 since March — just one step away from the severe “do not travel” warning.
At that time, the State Department ordered non-emergency US government employees and their families to flee the country.
The kingdom is dangerous because of “risk of Iranian drone and missile targeting of American interests, armed conflict, terrorism, exit bans, and local laws regarding social media activity,” the government said.
A level 4 alert for Iran, Iraq and Israel has been in place for months.
The renewed warning for Saudi Arabia comes just days after the Houthis fired a ballistic missile at the kingdom’s airport, though it was intercepted before it caused damage.
The travel warning also comes as diplomatic tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to worsen.
On Saturday, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Tehran has suspended its commitments to a recent memorandum of understanding (MoU) after it clailmed “the US violated its commitments.”
“We have … suspended our commitments, we are not implementing them, and we are busy defending the country.”
