The attack by Hamas on Israel in Gaza on Oct.7 and Israel’s response threaten to involve more countries in the Middle East in the planet’s most intractable conflict. The world is becoming a more dangerous place, and the U.S. government is advising Americans not visit more and more places around the globe.
To find the nations that the United States government does not want you to travel to, 24/7 Tempo has compiled a list based on information and announcements provided by the U.S. State Department. The list only focuses on those nations with a Level-4 classification. This is the highest advisory level and is issued because of a greater likelihood of life-threatening risks. During an emergency, the U.S. government may have limited ability to provide assistance. The Department of State advises U.S. citizens not to travel to a country or to leave it as soon as it is safe to do so.
The latest country to attain the State Department’s Level-4 designation is Lebanon, which received the government’s highest-level advisory on Oct. 17. Lebanon is a haven for Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shia Islamist political party and militant group that the U.S. has named as a terrorist organization. Since the attack by Hamas on Israel in early October, Hezbollah has stepped up its assault on Israel that threatens to widen the conflict in the volatile region.
Other nations in the Middle East that hold a Level-4 denotation are Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. On Oct. 20, the State Department ordered the departure of eligible family members and non-emergency U.S. government personnel from the U.S. Embassy Baghdad and U.S. Consulate General Erbil due to increased security threats against U.S. government personnel and interests in Iraq. Americans are urged not to travel near Iraq’s northern borders because of the continued threat of attacks by terrorist groups, armed conflict, aerial bombardment, and civil unrest.
Russia and Ukraine are do-not-travel areas as well, after Russia attacked Ukraine in February 2022 to start the largest war in Europe since World War II. Neighboring Belarus, Russia’s strongest supporter, also has a Level-4 tag.
Crime, terrorism, kidnapping, and civil unrest have placed African nations Niger, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Mali, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan on the do-not-travel list.
Lebanon
- When warning was issued: 10/17/2023
- Risk factors: Rocket, missile, and artillery exchanges between Israel and armed militant factions. Terrorism, civil unrest, armed conflict, crime, kidnapping.
Russia
- When warning was issued: 9/5/2023
- Risk factors: Unpredictable consequences of the invasion of Ukraine by Russian military, the potential for detention of U.S. citizens
Niger
- When warning was issued: 8/2/2023
- Risk factors: Crime, terrorism, and kidnapping
Burkina Faso
- When warning was issued: 7/31/2023
- Risk factors: Terrorism, crime, and kidnapping
Central African Republic
- When warning was issued: 7/31/2023
- Risk factors: Crime, civil unrest, kidnapping, embassy inability to support U.S. citizens
Mali
- When warning was issued: 7/31/2023
- Risk factors: Crime, terrorism, and kidnapping
Somalia
- When warning was issued: 7/31/2023
- Risk factors: Crime, terrorism, civil unrest, health issues, kidnapping, and piracy
South Sudan
- When warning was issued: 7/31/2023
- Risk factors: Crime, kidnapping, and armed conflict
Haiti
- When warning was issued: 7/27/2023
- Risk factors: Kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and poor healthcare infrastructure
Belarus
- When warning was issued: 7/26/2023
- Risk factors: Support for Russia’s war against Ukraine, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, potential of civil unrest, risk of detention
Burma (Myanmar)
- When warning was issued: 7/24/2023
- Risk factors: Civil unrest and armed conflict
North Korea
- When warning was issued: 7/24/2023
- Risk factors: Continuing serious risk of arrest and long-term detention of U.S. nationals
Venezuela
- When warning was issued: 7/17/2023
- Risk factors: Crime, civil unrest, kidnapping, arbitrary enforcement of local laws
Iran
- When warning was issued: 7/13/2023
- Risk factors: Kidnapping and the arbitrary arrest and detention of U.S. citizens
Iraq
- When warning was issued: 10/22/2023
- Risk factors: Terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, civil unrest, and Mission Iraq’s limited capacity to provide support to U.S. citizens
Libya
- When warning was issued: 7/13/2023
- Risk factors: Crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and armed conflict
Syria
- When warning was issued: 7/13/2023
- Risk factors: Terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, armed conflict, and risk of unjust detention
Yemen
- When warning was issued: 7/13/2023
- Risk factors: Terrorism, civil unrest, health risks, kidnapping, armed conflict, and landmines
Afghanistan
- When warning was issued: 12/18/2023
- Risk factors: Armed conflict, civil unrest, crime, terrorism, and kidnapping
Ukraine
- When warning was issued: 5/22/2023
- Risk factors: Russia’s war against Ukraine
Sudan
- When warning was issued: 4/22/2023
- Risk factors: Armed conflict, civil unrest, crime, terrorism, and kidnapping