The U.S. government is warning all Americans abroad, and especially those in the Middle East, that Americans or American interests across the world may be targeted as the Iran war continues.
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The State Department’s alert, issued Sunday, advises Americans across the world to “exercise increased caution” and warns of possible travel disruptions due to airspace closures. It claims U.S. diplomatic facilities outside of the Middle East “have been targeted” and that “groups supportive of Iran” may target U.S. interests overseas, locations associated with the United States and “Americans throughout the world.”
Since the conflict with Iran began, it has spilled into neighboring countries in the region, with Israel striking Lebanon and Iran targeting the neighboring Arab countries of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, according to The Associated Press. The New York Times reported that three Iranian missiles were intercepted by NATO member Turkey – a travel destination for more than 1.2 million U.S. citizens last year alone, according to the industry newsletter Insider Travel Report.
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When the war began on Feb. 28, tens of thousands of Americans were initially stuck in the region. At that time, the State Department issued a notice to Americans advising worldwide caution. Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts told CNBC on Thursday that many were still in the region and unable to make it home.
As of this month, Middle Eastern countries Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Cyprus, United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Oman are now a Level 3 risk, and Turkey is a Level 2 risk. Iraq, a neighbor of Iran, was upgraded to a Level 4 risk as of this month as well. Lebanon received a Level 4 advisory last month.
Changes to travel advisories are not unusual and often correspond with conflicts or crises around the globe. The broadening war with Iran has suddenly affected travel to a wide range of countries – and not just for U.S. travelers. More than “46,000 commercial flights have been cancelled, heading to or from the Middle East” since the U.S. and Israel’s initial strikes on Iran, Turkish Radio and Television reported.
Venezuela is now under a Level 4 advisory as of December 2025, just before a U.S. military operation in January 2026 that launched airstrikes into the country and took President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, into custody on narco-terrorism, drug-trafficking and weapons charges.
Travel advisories can be based on a number of factors aside from war, including health and disease risks, incidents of terrorism and civil unrest. A country rated Level 1 is generally safe, and Americans are advised to exercise normal precautions. Level 2 countries have “increased risks to safety and security,” but travel is still acceptable.
Level 3 and Level 4 advisories constitute “serious” risks to travelers’ safety. Level 3 urges Americans to “reconsider travel,” while Level 4 more decisively declares “do not travel.” Kidnapping, civil unrest and terrorism are some of the higher risks associated with Level 4 countries. The State Department warns that it is “very limited” in its ability to assist Americans in distress in those places.
As of March 17, 21 countries have a Level 4 advisory, while 31 have a Level 3 warning. Overall, that’s about a quarter of all countries that pose significantly elevated risks for American travelers, as defined by the State Department.
Closer to home, Mexico has varying degrees of risk for U.S. travelers. The states of Yucatan and Campeche, for example, carry a Level 1 risk. In more central and northern parts of Mexico however, like the states of Chihuahua, Sinaloa and Colima, Level 3 and Level 4 advisories are in place due to a “risk of violence” from organized crime.
Before deciding to travel abroad, the State Department asks U.S. residents to check advisory levels, research information on their intended destinations and stay up to date on related security reports.
