The United States has issued its highest-level travel advisory for Israel, urging all American citizens to avoid travel to the country due to what it describes as “armed conflict, terrorism, and civil unrest.”
The U.S. State Department raised the travel warning to Level 4—“Do Not Travel”—on Saturday, citing the rapidly deteriorating security situation across the region.
“The security situation in Israel is unpredictable and U.S. citizens are reminded to remain vigilant and take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness,” the State Department said in an official statement.
The advisory comes amid heightened tensions in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.
Americans were also specifically warned not to travel to Gaza and the West Bank “for any reason,” citing growing instability and the risk of violence.
Additionally, the U.S. government cautioned citizens to avoid areas within 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) of Israel’s borders with Lebanon and Syria due to “continued military presence and activity.”
The alert reflects growing concern in Washington over the escalating hostilities in the region, which have included cross-border strikes, rocket attacks, and violent clashes in recent weeks.
The advisory also signals that the U.S. expects the situation to worsen before it improves.
In past weeks, Israel has intensified its military operations near its northern borders, while tensions in the West Bank have continued to rise following deadly confrontations between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants.
The State Department reiterated that the U.S. government has limited ability to assist citizens in high-risk areas.
“American nationals in the region should enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts and ensure they can be located in an emergency,” the advisory noted.
