The State Department issued a Worldwide Caution security alert on Saturday afternoon “due to heightened tensions” in the Middle East after the United States and Iran exchanged increasingly heavy fire throughout the week over control of the Strait of Hormuz.
“The security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation,” the announcement said. “We remind Americans in the region of the continued need for caution and encourage them to monitor the news for breaking developments. The Department of State advises Americans worldwide, especially in the Middle East, to exercise increased caution.”
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“U.S. diplomatic facilities, including outside the Middle East, have been targeted,” the announcement also said. “Groups supportive of Iran may target other U.S. interests overseas or locations associated with the United States and/or Americans throughout the world.”
The statement was released hours after the U.S. Central Command announced two U.S. service members had been killed in Jordan on Friday in an Iranian ballistic missile and drone attack. The U.S. struck Iran for the eighth night in a row this week after a fragile peace agreement unraveled earlier in the month.
CENTCOM announced Saturday night it had completed another round of strikes meant to degrade Iran’s capacity to launch missile and drone attacks at commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz and to swiftly punish the Iranian leaders responsible for the service members’ deaths.
“CENTCOM forces successfully hit Iranian military coastal surveillance and air defense facilities, maritime capabilities, and missile and drone storage sites to continue degrading Iranian military capabilities,” the statement said. “American military assets also targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces that launched attacks against U.S. service members in Jordan on July 17.”
TWO US SERVICE MEMBERS KILLED IN JORDAN AFTER BREAKDOWN OF IRAN CEASEFIRE
The department last issued a Worldwide Caution advisory on March 22, about a month after fighting broke out between the two countries. Saturday’s announcement also warned of potential “flight cancellations and periodic airspace closures.”
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said on Saturday the U.S. would face “unforgettable consequences” if it continued attacking Iran. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he is open to wiping out the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and has threatened throughout the conflict to escalate military operations, such as by ordering a ground invasion of Kharg Island.
