The US urged American travellers abroad to ‘exercise increased caution.’ What’s going on?

The State Department issued a worldwide security alert Sunday, urging Americans abroad to "exercise increased caution" because of the potential for "demonstrations against US citizens and interests abroad," after American intervention in the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.

The advisory came a day after President Donald Trump announced that US forces had attacked nuclear sites in Iran, a move that experts say is likely to draw retaliation against American military assets in the region.

Here's what you need to know if you are overseas or considering international travel.

What does the advisory mean?

The worldwide security alert calls on Americans to be cautious and vigilant when traveling abroad. It also warns that the conflict between Iran and Israel has resulted in "disruptions to travel and periodic closure of airspace across the Middle East."

The advisory urges Americans to read country-specific advisories and security alerts when planning travel and to sign up for the government's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program for real-time security updates and to help the State Department quickly and accurately establish contact in the event of an emergency.

Is it safe to travel?

It depends on where you are going.

The State Department's country-specific guidance has both Israel and Iran at Level 4, or "do not travel." The travel advisory for Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip was updated June 16 citing "armed conflict, terrorism and civil unrest." Emergency evacuation flights are being provided for Americans wishing to leave Israel.

The department has also issued a "do not travel" advisory for Iran, which was last updated March 31 and warns of terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, arbitrary arrest of U.S. citizens and wrongful detention.

The most common designation in the advisory system is Level 1, which means a country is generally recognized as safe. Level 2 suggests travelers should "exercise increased caution" and several countries in the region, including the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Jordan, are at Level 2 (but so too are countries such as the Netherlands and Spain.) Egypt has a Level 3 "reconsider travel" warning because of the threat of terrorism.

Are flights still operating in the region?

Many commercial flights to and from the Middle East have been canceled, delayed or rerouted because of airspace closures tied to the exchange of missiles and drone barrages between Iran and Israel. Airlines are largely steering clear of airspace between Iran, Iraq, Syria and parts of Jordan.

Safe Airspace, an independent conflict zone and risk aviation database, warned Monday that the U.S. involvement in the conflict and potential for retaliation against U.S. military targets raises airspace risk over Persian Gulf States such as Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

"While there have been no specific threats made against civil aviation, Iran has previously warned it would retaliate by attacking U.S. military interests in the Middle East -- either directly or via proxies such as Hezbollah," the organization warned on its website.

American operators, including United and American Airlines, have temporarily paused or rerouted flights to Dubai, in the UAE, and Doha, the capital of Qatar, because of the conflict in the region.

Are worldwide security alerts common?

This is not the first time the State Department has issued a worldwide security advisory. The last worldwide notice was published in 2023 in response to widespread unrest and demonstrations tied to the war between Israel and Hamas following the Oct. 7 terrorist attack. The protests spread through the Middle East and Europe and resulted in violent clashes at U.S. diplomatic compounds.