U.S. State Department Adds Another Middle East Country to ‘Do Not Travel’ List

As tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate, the U.S. State Department has added another country to its Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory list.

The State Department is now telling Americans “do not travel” to Lebanon, due to “the unpredictable security situation related to rocket, missile, and artillery exchanges between Israel and Hizballah or other armed militant factions.”

The upgrade came just hours after the Beirut embassy was set on fire during a protest on Tuesday.

The new Lebanon travel advisory joins other recently elevated advisories for Americans looking to travel to the region. The others include a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for Gaza, and a warning to Reconsider Travel to Israel and the West Bank.

 “Terrorists and violent extremists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities. Violence can occur in Israel and the West Bank and Gaza without warning,” the advisory reads. “There has been a marked increase in demonstrations throughout Israel, some with little or no warning.”

The State Department has also authorized the departure of all American government personnel from both Jerusalem and Beirut.