US embassies urge 'heightened vigilance' in Middle East
US embassies in the Middle East urge Americans to exercise heightened vigilance, citing flight disruptions and Houthi attacks amid the US-Iran war
News Desk
The News Desk provides timely and factual coverage of national and international events, with an emphasis on accuracy and clarity.
A U.S. soldier at a military base near Mosul during an operation against Islamic State militants, Iraq, October 18, 2016.
Reuters
US embassies across much of the Middle East urged Americans on Monday to exercise heightened vigilance, citing a “complex security environment” and travel disruptions eight months into the US-Iran war.
Embassies in the Gulf, Israel, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan issued the security alert.
What does the heightened vigilance alert from US embassies say?
The alert tells Americans to be aware of “potential flight cancellations, airspace closures, and travel disruptions”. It urges US citizens to monitor flight information and prepare contingency plans. The warning cites attacks by Yemen’s Houthis on Saudi Arabia, where Riyadh’s international airport remains closed.
The security alert said: “Americans currently in the Middle East should exercise heightened vigilance due to the complex security environment.”
Why are the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia a concern?
Riyadh’s international airport remains closed after 18 people were killed in a string of strikes this month. “The hostilities have the potential to escalate rapidly beyond that immediate area,” the warning said.
Comments
See what people are discussing