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State Department urges Americans not to travel to Israel, Iraq or Iran; establishes 24-hour task force
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Summary
A State Department spokesperson said the Department has set up a 24-hour Middle East task force, issued more than 30 security alerts and is advising U.S. citizens not to travel to Israel, Iraq or Iran; consular resources and contact information were provided.
The State Department on Tuesday urged U.S. citizens not to travel to Israel, Iraq or Iran and said it has set up a 24-hour Middle East task force to coordinate consular support and information for Americans abroad.
The advisory matters because the department said the region’s security situation is complex and rapidly evolving, and the task force is intended to centralize information and connect callers with embassy resources.
A State Department spokesperson said the task force is “operating 24 hours a day” and that the department had issued “more than 30 security alerts” in the past week and updated travel advisories for Iraq and Israel. The spokesperson told reporters that U.S. citizens should regularly consult travel.state.gov and enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts.
The spokesperson described the task force as a coordination and information hub rather than a single evacuation authority, saying callers to the general State Department number are routed to consular offices and embassies that can provide local assistance. “That phone number is a general phone number,” the spokesperson said, adding the number for Americans needing assistance: +1 (202) 501-4444.
Reporters asked whether the task force would arrange charter flights or military evacuations; the spokesperson declined to discuss operational details, saying only that the department plans for contingencies to assist private U.S. citizens departing crisis areas and will notify the public if there is additional information about options during a crisis.
The spokesperson also recommended that Americans in the region identify and keep contact information for the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate; for Israel the spokesperson noted primary diplomatic presences in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Less critical details: the spokesperson thanked consular and diplomatic personnel working abroad, and reiterated that country-specific travel alerts are published at travel.state.gov.
