International Israel

Washington Warns Citizens Against Travel to Israel

The US embassy in Israel said that "the security environment in the Middle East remains complex due to severe tensions in the region with the possibility of unexpected escalation"...

Khaled Yousef

July 18, 2026 • Updated: July 18, 2026

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Jerusalem / Khaled Yousef / Anadolu

The United States warned its citizens on Saturday against traveling to Israel, urging them to reassess travel plans to the Middle East amid escalating security tensions and the possibility of "unexpected" escalation.

The US embassy in Israel said in a security alert that "the security environment in the Middle East remains complex due to severe tensions in the region, with the possibility of unexpected escalation."

It urged Americans in the region to continue exercising caution and follow urgent news and developments, calling on travelers to or through the region to check with airlines to ensure their flights continue as scheduled.

The embassy also recommended that US citizens take the current security situation into account when planning travel to Israel and the occupied West Bank.

It stressed the need not to travel to the Gaza Strip, northern Israel, and border areas with Egypt, except for the Taba crossing, while also calling for reconsidering travel to or through the Middle East region.

The alert comes amid escalating security and military tensions between the United States and Iran and the accompanying fears of sudden developments that could affect travel and movement.

In this context, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Saturday the completion of the seventh wave of overnight attacks on Iranian targets.

CENTCOM said in a post on the US company X platform that the strikes targeted observation points, military logistics infrastructure, and Iranian naval capabilities.

It affirmed "continuing to hold Tehran responsible and imposing a naval blockade on it."

For days, the United States has been launching successive waves of strikes on sites inside Iran, while Tehran has been attacking what it says are American ships, facilities, and military bases in several countries in the region.

On June 18, 2026, Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding that included a halt to military operations and the start of negotiations to reach a broader agreement.

But US President Donald Trump announced on July 8 of this month the end of the interim agreement, after 3 ships were targeted in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Washington to resume its strikes inside Iran, amid escalating Iranian responses in the region.

Washington demands ensuring freedom and security of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, while Tehran insists on imposing a mechanism to regulate the passage of ships through the strategic waterway, exacerbating fears of disruption to oil and gas exports from the region.