Nothing says "summer vacation planning" quite like the U.S. State Department telling every American on planet Earth to maybe keep their heads on a swivel. On Saturday, July 16, the department issued a Worldwide Caution tied to escalating tensions with Iran, as Trending Politics reported, essentially upgrading the global vibe from "be careful" to "seriously, be careful."
The official advisory did not mince words. "Due to heightened tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation. The Department of State advises Americans worldwide, and especially in the Middle East, to exercise increased caution," the department stated. It went on to warn that "groups supportive of Iran may target other U.S. interests overseas or locations associated with the United States and/or Americans throughout the world." So basically everywhere that has a McDonald's.
The advisory also reminded travelers that flight cancellations and airspace closures could disrupt travel plans, which is government speak for "your connecting flight through Doha might get interesting." Americans were encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, or STEP, so their nearest embassy can send them updates. Think of it as a newsletter you actually want to read.
The Worldwide Caution came on the heels of a genuinely grim development. Iranian missile and drone strikes hit a U.S. base in Azraq, Jordan late Friday night. U.S. Central Command confirmed that two American service members were killed in the attack, with one additional service member still reported missing. Four others received hospital treatment and were discharged, while additional minor injuries were treated on site. These were the first American fatalities in the conflict since early April, and there is nothing funny about that.
CENTCOM responded by conducting additional strikes Friday night into Saturday morning, marking the seventh straight night of military operations targeting the Iranian regime. "U.S. forces employed fighter aircraft, aerial drones, and warships in addition to other assets," CENTCOM stated. Targets included surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage, and maritime capabilities, largely in southern Iran along the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian forces have fired back with retaliatory actions including the Jordan base attack. Both Iranian officials and President Trump have stated that the memorandum of understanding previously in place has been suspended, which is diplomatic language for "the handshake deal is off the table and the table is on fire."
The State Department recommended Americans review country specific travel advisories on travel.state.gov before booking anything and to avoid unnecessary travel to higher risk areas. So if your vacation plans involved sightseeing near the Strait of Hormuz, maybe pivot to something domestic. Branson, Missouri is lovely this time of year.
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