The U.S. government issued a travel advisory to its citizens around the world in connection with the war with Iran.
On the 20th (local time), the U.S. State Department said, "Rising tensions in the Middle East have complicated the security environment, which could escalate into unforeseen situations," and added, "Americans currently staying in the Middle East need to exercise particular caution."
Armed clashes between the United States and Iran over control of the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping lane, have intensified recently.
The U.S. State Department urged Americans in the Middle East to "prepare for the possibility of flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and travel disruptions," and to "regularly check security alerts from embassies and consulates, notices from local authorities, and the news."
It also asked Americans staying in other regions to reconsider travel or transit plans to the Middle East.
The U.S. State Department said that "U.S. diplomatic facilities outside the Middle East have also been targeted in the past," and that "Iran and Iran-aligned groups could target facilities and locations related to the United States or Americans anywhere in the world."
The U.S. State Department also issued a global travel advisory to its citizens in March, when U.S. embassy facilities in the Middle East were targeted amid the war with Iran.