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Is it safe to go there? The U.S. travel advisory system, explained

If you’re planning an international trip, here’s how to use the State Department’s country-by-country guide to minimize your risk of encountering crime, violence, or civil unrest.

A jet at an airport terminal gate.

On October 19, the U.S. Department of State issued a rare advisory that Americans overseas “exercise increased caution” due to heightened tensions and chances of terrorism around the world, spurred by the Israel-Hamas war. It’s part of a system of travel warnings that’s been around in some form since 1978, designed to help citizens assess how safe a destination might be at a given time.

The current version of the system, which launched in 2018, gives fluid rankings from Level 1 (exercise normal precautions) to Level 4 (do not travel), indicating how risky countries (and in some cases, regions) are for Americans to visit. Rankings are based on factors such as crime rates, civil unrest, and the threat of terrorism. They are meant to give “clear, timely, and reliable information about every country in the world so they can make informed travel decisions,” says a State Department spokesperson.  

Not surprisingly, on October 14, the State Department moved Israel and the West Bank to Level 3 (reconsider travel) and Gaza to Level 4.  

Here’s how the advisories work and how to use them.

What is a travel advisory?

The U.S. State Department inaugurated the travel advisory system in 1978, initially aiming warnings at airlines and travel companies. The system was scrutinized after the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am flight from London to New York , which exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland , killing all 259 passengers and crew plus 11 people on the ground.  

Investigations found U.S. authorities had been aware of a credible threat to a Pan Am flight but hadn’t informed the public. In response, the media and consular offices began issuing travel warnings. In 2018 the U.S. introduced its current four-tier advisory system. There are near-identical versions in Canada , Australia , and New Zealand .

To determine rankings, the State Department considers a nation’s political volatility, crime trends, medical care standards, and the threat of kidnappings or terrorism. (Politics also ends up playing an unspoken role.) Some countries, such as Russia , receive a Level 4 ranking partly because the U.S. government may have limited ability to assist citizens there. Others rise to Level 4 due to a crisis, such as the military coup that recently rocked Niger .  

When the travel advisory system relaunched in 2018, it also included state-by-state evaluations for Mexico , which draws more than 11 million American travelers a year. “Some Mexican states are quite safe for U.S. tourists, while others are riskier due to narco-trafficking violence,” says Ryan Larsen , executive director of the Institute for Global Engagement at Western Washington University. Yucatán and Campeche states are currently at Level 1, while six other Mexican states are at Level 4, including Sinaloa.

( Solo female travelers share tips for staying safe on the road .)

Epidemics and natural disasters also can prompt a travel advisory number to rise. Americans may be prompted to reconsider visiting a country recovering from a tsunami or major wildfires, since their presence could hinder rehabilitation efforts. This occurred after the February 2023 earthquakes in Turkey . Such advisories can remain in place for weeks or months.

The strictest-ever advisories came in April 2021, amid the COVID-19 pandemic , says Larsen, who did a thesis   on U.S. travel warnings. At that time, about 80 percent of the world’s countries were at Level 4.

At press time, about 70 percent of the world’s countries were rated Level 1 or Level 2 by the State Department, indicating they’re relatively safe. There are currently 21 countries at Level 3 and 21 at Level 4.

How to use travel advisories

Before booking an international trip, consult the State Department website to see where your destination ranks. While Level 1 and 2 countries are considered relatively safe, you should still register with the U.S. Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) . This lets Americans overseas use their smartphone to receive travel advisory updates and alerts about emerging dangers in their destination (protests, extreme weather).

Level 3 countries are considered more dangerous for foreign visitors, who should “reconsider travel,” according to the State Department. If you are headed to a Level 3 country, which currently includes Pakistan and Colombia , do wider research on its safety and on the places you’ll visit there, advises Jun Wen , a professor of tourism at Australia’s Edith Cowan University. For instance, while some remote areas in the Colombian Amazon still suffer from drug-related violence, cities such as Cartagena and Medellín are relatively safe. Going on a fully guided group or individual tour can also help you navigate destinations where political unrest or crime might impact your safety.

Travelers should study not only the advisories provided by their own country, but also by the U.S., United Kingdom, and Australia to broaden their understanding of the risks in Level 3 countries, Wen says. As for Level 4 countries, that “Do Not Travel” advice couldn’t be any clearer.

Other countries also issue warnings to their citizens about visiting the U.S. Canada recently informed its LGBTQ travelers they may be affected by laws in certain U.S. states. Australia, meanwhile, cautions its citizens visiting the U.S. to be wary of higher crime rates and gun violence, and even to learn safety strategies for active shooter scenarios.

People who visit countries with Level 3 or Level 4 travel advisories don’t just risk their safety. They also may have travel insurance complications, says Linchi Kwok , tourism management professor at California State Polytechnic University Pomona.

( How travel insurance can—and can’t—help when your plans change .)

They must pay much higher premiums, and their insurance can be invalidated if the advisory for their destination is elevated. “Medical coverage can be minimal, too, particularly if the travel advisory is put up against a disease or an outbreak,” says Kwok. “I encourage Americans to think twice before they travel to Level 3 and especially Level 4 destinations.”

Warnings and their impact on tourism

Travel advisories can be biased, Larsen argues. His research found that, while the U.S. didn’t often overstate the risk of travel to countries with which it had poor relations, it did often understate the danger of visiting nations that were its close allies. Elevating a travel advisory can stoke diplomatic tensions between two countries. Once a country is raised to Level 3 or 4, many tourists will avoid visiting, and many American universities won’t let students join study abroad programs.

The economic ramifications of a level change impact individual businesses such as hotels, restaurants, and travel agencies. For instance, J 2   adventures , a Jewish-focused tour company, saw most of its fall group trips to Israel canceled after the start of the Israel-Hamas war (and the higher advisory level), says cofounder Guy Millo. “This is not just because of the violence on the ground, but because of practical considerations like accessibility of commercial airline flights,” he says. “Most tourists from North America and places around the globe simply couldn’t get here even if they wanted to.”  

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A trail of travel

A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding International Travel Warnings: Top 9 Key Points

Grasping the concept: understanding international travel warnings.

The emphasis for global travelers is primarily on the safety and security elements of their journey. Knowing the purpose and implications of international travel warnings is key. They are put in place to caution tourists about regions with potential security risks. As responsible inhabitants of the global society, comprehending these warnings is crucial for successful travel planning.

Understanding International Travel Warnings

Delving into the Core of International Travel Warnings

Travel advisories emerge from government bodies to inform citizens about potential hazards at a specific destination, be it political upheaval , terrorist threats , health crises , natural calamities , or socio-economic instability . The advisories cover diverse scenarios, including crime or abduction possibilities.

The Classification of International Travel Warnings

Generally, international travel warnings can be divided into four primary categories:

i. Level 1 – Exercise Normal Precautions : Limited level of risk applies to some countries or regions.

ii. Level 2 – Exercise Increased Caution : If there are safety issues at play, travelers should exercise increased care.

iii. Level 3 – Reconsider Travel : Advisories under this category suggest that travelers should reassess their plans due to significant risks.

iv. Level 4 – Do Not Travel : This is the highest warning level suggesting travelers to forgo travels due to major safety and security issues.

Deciphering International Travel Warnings

Decoding international travel warnings is more complicated than simply deciding to pack your suitcase or not; it calls for a careful analysis of associated risks. A complete grasp of the situation is essential for making informed decisions that prioritize safety.

Travel Warnings: A Crucial Factor in Trip Planning

Travel advisories significantly influence destination selection. A level 4 advisory doesn’t necessarily prohibit travel, but it suggests you might need to reconsider your plans. It’s vital to balance the risks and understand the listed threats in the advisory.

The Vital Role of Embassies and Consulates

During periods of uncertainty, embassies and consulates offer guidance and help in real-time. They furnish dedicated helplines for crisis management, create evacuation plans, provide shelter, and other important aids.

Association of International Travel Warnings with Travel Insurance

Insurances might not cover areas with travel warnings. It’s essential to thoroughly go through the insurance documents and discuss with the insurance provider regarding coverage in emergent situations.

Essential Tips for Travelling Amid International Travel Warnings

Always have a back-up plan, register with the embassy, take the local laws seriously, seek information from trusted sources, and stay in touch with loved ones. To deepen your understanding of travel advisories, you can refer to understanding the intricacies of CDC travel warnings and safety measures .

Grasping international travel warnings relies on collecting comprehensive information and interpreting it accurately. With this guide, you will be able to navigate travel advisories with greater ease, making informed decisions that prioritize your safety.

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  • Comprehensive Guide to Airline Travel Alerts: Understanding, Preparing, and Staying Ahead
  • 10 Key Insights into the State Department’s Do Not Travel List

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Travel Advisory Updates

Office of the Spokesperson

April 19, 2021

State Department Travel Advisory Updates

In order to provide U.S. travelers detailed and actionable information to make informed travel decisions, the Department of State regularly assesses and updates our Travel Advisories, based primarily on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Travel Health Notices (THNs) and secondary factors such as commercial flight availability, restrictions on U.S. citizen entry, and impediments to obtaining COVID test results within three calendar days.

The following Travel Advisories have been updated to reflect the current CDC THNs for COVID-19.

We continue to monitor health and safety conditions around the world, working with the CDC and other agencies, as conditions evolve.

This week, the following Travel Advisories have been assessed and reissued with updates, raised to a Level 4 – Do Not Travel:

This week, the following Travel Advisory has been assessed and reissued with updates, lowered to a Level 3 – Reconsider Travel.

  • Antigua and Barbuda

U.S. Department of State

The lessons of 1989: freedom and our future.

Everything you need to know about State Department travel advisories

Caroline Tanner

When traveling abroad, the top concern for many Americans is safety.

Whether it is due to ongoing conflict, special events such as the 2024 Paris Olympics , natural disasters like a volcano currently erupting in Iceland or an uptick in crime , conditions of countries can change rapidly, affecting both travelers and locals.

To help keep American travelers safe, the U.S. Department of State issues and maintains travel advisories for U.S. citizens based on current circumstances.

These advisories can be particularly helpful for first-time and younger travelers, though the agency encourages all people to review them for their desired destination ahead of travel.

What are travel advisories based on?

Although travel warnings originate from the State Department and live on its website , they are a joint effort between the State Department's Office of Overseas Citizens Services and U.S. consulates and embassies worldwide.

"We've got our diplomats and consular officers on the ground in all those places, who have more up-to-date information than anyone in Washington could have," said Angela Kerwin, deputy assistant secretary for Overseas Citizens Services, during a Zoom interview Thursday. "But we use a variety of information in order to look at the criteria that go into our travel advisories around the world."

In addition to crime reports, nongovernmental organization reports and those from international organizations such as the United Nations, the government considers nine risk factors in determining the level at which each country's advisory should be set:

  • C — Crime : Widespread violence or organized crime is present in areas of the country. Local law enforcement may have limited ability to respond to serious crimes.
  • T — Terrorism : Terrorist attacks have occurred and/or specific threats against civilians, groups or other targets may exist.
  • U — Civil Unrest : Political, economic, religious and/or ethnic instability exists and may cause violence, major disruptions and/or safety risks.
  • H — Health : Health risks, including current disease outbreaks or a crisis that disrupts a country's medical infrastructure. The issuance of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Travel Health Notice may also be a factor.
  • N — Natural Disaster : A natural disaster, or its aftermath, poses danger.
  • E — Time-limited Event : Short-term events, such as elections, sporting events or other incidents that may pose safety risks.
  • K — Kidnapping or Hostage Taking : Criminal or terrorist individuals or groups have threatened to and/or have seized or detained and threatened to kill, injure or continue to detain individuals in order to compel a third party (including a governmental organization) to do or abstain from doing something as a condition of release.
  • D — Wrongful Detention : The risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals exists.
  • O — Other : Potential risks are not covered by previous risk indicators. Read the country's travel advisory for details.

Although the most recently added category, Wrongful Detention, only applies to a handful of countries, it's an important criterion for travelers to note when a country has detained a U.S. citizen without cause.

Level 1 to 4 tiered warning system

travel warning concept

Based on that nine-rubric system, plus reports and input from U.S. consulates and embassies in these countries, the agency assigns each country a Level 1 to 4 tiered warning , with 1 being the lowest level, indicating relative safety, and 4 being the highest, meaning travelers should not visit.

Level 1: Exercise normal precautions

This is the lowest level a country can achieve, making it among the safest for Americans to visit. As with any travel, there is always some risk, so every country will always have at least a Level 1 advisory.

Level 2: Exercise increased caution

Under a Level 2 designation, a country has increased safety or security risks, but they likely won't preclude you from traveling there.

Level 3: Reconsider travel

A Level 3 advisory tells travelers to potentially defer trips to the country in question, as serious potential risks exist.

Level 4: Do not travel

The most serious advisories are Level 4 recommendations, which alert you to avoid travel to designated countries and areas due to a greater threat of potentially life-threatening risks and limited resources to help Americans.

What else to know about travel advisories

In addition to the State Department's general travel advisory, a country's information page will also provide any timely alerts from the corresponding U.S. embassy and/or consulate to consider.

There are also certain countries where the agency can provide "carve-outs" to communicate information related to specific areas or regions within a particular country.

"Perhaps the country itself is a Level 3 country, but there is one particular border area that has ongoing kinetic activity of some sort, and we'd say that would be a Level 4," Kerwin explained.

These carve-outs are most often found in Mexico , as the U.S. shares a border with the country and more Americans travel to Mexico for tourism than elsewhere.

"Mexico is a special case. We also have more U.S. consulates than we do in any other country in the world, and for that reason, we are able to provide state-by-state travel advisory levels in Mexico," Kerwin said. "[With] other countries around the world, [we] just simply don't have the ability to have that level of detail; the specificity is greater for Mexico."

travel warning concept

Because data is the main source of information for crafting these advisories, not all alerts can be created equally.

"It is impossible to say that we can apply all nine criteria exactly the same in country A as we do in country B. You're going to have more statistical data of a reliable type for ... Germany than you would Chad," Kerwin explained. "So to compare the exact same report for Germany with the exact same report for Chad is not something that makes sense because it's generally not going to be available."

In those cases, the government relies on its embassies and consulates, which are present in most of these countries, to help inform its alerts.

"We've got people on the ground who are often best positioned to help us evaluate the number of kidnappings, the level of civil unrest, how many terrorist attacks reported or not reported," she said.

Note that a lack of readily available or accurate data doesn't make the country inherently riskier or more dangerous for travelers.

"It just means that we don't have the exact type of data that we would have in another country," Kerwin said. "We would have to rely more heavily on embassy reporting and our folks there, but it does not necessarily mean it is a more dangerous country."

Does a Level 4 alert mean I should avoid traveling there?

In short, the answer is yes.

At the time of publication, there were 19 countries with Level 4 alerts, per the State Department.

"These are the places we deem as the most dangerous for U.S. citizens to travel to, and we would really like U.S. citizens to look at other destinations," Kerwin said. In part, that's because of the limited consular or embassy services available in these places should an American need help.

"Every U.S. citizen gets to make up their own mind on where they want to travel. That's all we can do as a government," she continued. "If a U.S. citizen finds themselves in a situation where they need to travel to one of these countries for whatever reason, we would ask that they look at our travel advisories in advance, read our country information sheet. We would certainly recommend if we have a functioning embassy, that they save that information on their phone so they can contact the embassy if necessary."

But overall, travelers should avoid traveling to Level 4 countries if possible.

"Each of these Level 4 countries will tell you what our concerns are with these countries and [that] our criteria has been met," Kerwin said. "We believe it is quite dangerous to go there."

How often are State Department travel advisories updated?

travel warning concept

When viewing a travel advisory, you'll note at the top the date it was last updated, as alerts are updated on a rolling basis.

Generally speaking, Level 4 and Level 3 alerts are updated at least once every six months, while Level 1 and Level 2 alerts are examined at least once per year, pending evolving circumstances.

"If something changes or some precipitating event, we would do it earlier as needed," Kerwin said.

For example, on Thursday, the U.S. Embassy in Reykjavik issued its own alert regarding a volcanic eruption in southwest Iceland that morning. When embassy alerts are issued for isolated events in a particular region of a country, it does not necessarily reflect the overall level of the country as a whole.

Despite the volcano warning, Iceland remained at Level 1 , as it has since July. If it had been a more widespread eruption affecting general European air travel, that would have prompted the agency to update the travel advisory as a whole.

"Right now, by sending out that security alert, we're saying stay away from the volcano, but if you wanna go have dinner in Reykjavik, follow our regular information we have on our travel advisory," Kerwin said.

That volcano alert also went out via the agency's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program , which sends relevant security updates from the nearest U.S. Consulate, and which Kerwin advised travelers to enroll in as another way to stay safe abroad.

"So anybody who is registered in STEP traveling to or who is living in Iceland would've gotten an email to say, 'Hey, be aware the volcano erupted again today, we're watching it closely; pay attention,'" she explained. "We have those various security alerts that we can send out at any time in a country based on late-breaking events."

Special events, such as the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics, will also trigger additional and/or more frequent alerts.

"We will be paying special attention to that. We expect there will be a large number of U.S. citizens that are headed in that direction to cheer on our team, and we want to make sure that we are giving them the best information we can about their time when they're traveling," Kerwin said.

Other things to consider when traveling abroad

As with travel in general, the State Department advises Americans heading overseas to prepare in advance.

"We have a slogan we've been using, and I like it; it's called 'travel smart from the start,' and that starts even before you decide what destination," Kerwin said. That slogan applies to details like checking that you have enough validity on your passport (most countries require six months at the time of entry) and buying travel insurance.

Kerwin also advises procuring the contact information for the nearest U.S. government presence (i.e., the embassy or consulate) via the State Department's list of U.S. embassies and consulates .

"Jot down on paper, take a picture on your phone and save the U.S. Embassy/Consulate phone number or email address so you can get in contact with us if there's a problem," she said. "And always be aware of your surroundings ... a heightened level of awareness ... is important for travelers no matter where they're going."

Bottom line

travel warning concept

With travel comes an inherent risk, and the government aims to help travelers remain safe domestically and abroad.

While the decision to travel is ultimately up to the traveler, these travel advisories should be taken seriously.

"Our goal is to always provide the best advice and information we can for U.S. citizens so they can make their decisions as to where they wish they travel," Kerwin said.

Therefore, heed these travel warnings from the State Department via U.S. embassies, consulates and the department's STEP program.

"The final thing — and this is an important one — is to have fun," Kerwin added. "Travel is fantastic — you get to see new cultures, and you get to experience new languages and beautiful countries and beautiful cities. We want U.S. citizens to travel and have fun on their adventures around the world."

Related reading:

  • Cancun travel advisory: State Department issues warning to US travelers heading to Mexico
  • The difference between CDC and State Department travel warnings
  • US issues worldwide travel advisory — here's what you should know
  • Finally: US passport processing back to pre-pandemic time frame

Protect Your Trip »

What You Need to Know About Travel Warnings and Alerts

Should you reconsider your travel plans in light of the latest advisories?

Traveler using a cellphone at the airport

Getty Images

In some countries, including many places across Europe with no current or imminent threat, it's best to keep your plans and take necessary precautions rather than canceling or postponing your trip.

You've read the latest travel warnings and alerts and have decided it's best to rearrange your itinerary and take the destination you're interested in off your bucket list, at least for now. Are you making a smart choice, or are you basing your decision off of incomplete information?

The U.S. State Department issues travel warnings for a variety of reasons, including an unstable political climate, terrorist attacks, a civil war or recurring instances of violence and crime. While some destinations have travel warnings in place for extended periods of time, others feature warnings until the environment changes, to help Americans understand the risks involved with traveling to these destinations.

After reading such advisories, you might be hesitant to visit any place that has a travel warning issued by the State Department. But when you take into account that there are currently 37 different travel warnings and six travel alerts in effect, and realize that some destinations pose more dangerous conditions than others, you might want to reconsider putting your travel plans into motion.

[See: 10 Things Every Traveler Must Know Before Going to Brazil This Summer .]

What You Need to Know About Travel Warnings

Some warnings are easy to understand. North Korea , Afghanistan and Syria, for example, are a few places with repressive dictatorships and active warzones, meaning they are generally not the most welcoming vacation destinations for U.S. citizens. But what about countries that welcome millions of American travelers each year? Some of these countries offer some of the finest all-inclusive resorts in the world, modern infrastructures and first-world comforts. If you think you won't find any travel warning or alerts associated with those places, think again.

Mexico has had an ongoing travel warning for years that seemingly encompasses the entire country. Yet, if you pinpoint the particular advisory in place, you'd find that the warning is only tied to some very specific areas in certain regions of the country. After all, Mexico is a big place.

[See: 10 Common Pieces of Travel Advice You Should Never Follow .]

Fortunately, vigilant travelers seem to understand that many destinations across Mexico are safe. Despite the broad travel warning, word of mouth from past travelers to Mexico, as well as feedback from American travel agents on their clients' visits, have resulted in millions of Americans traveling to the country each year.

The same logic can be applied to many countries across Europe. The European continent is home to hundreds of millions of people and the European Union counts 28 member countries across a continent encompassing 3.9 million square miles. And Europe is an immense tapestry of different nationalities, cultures and histories, yet the U.S. State Department issued a sweeping travel alert for the entire continent of Europe in the wake of the Brussels attacks. While a travel alert doesn't carry the same weight as a travel warning, a sizable part of the continent is included in the same short-term alert even though some destinations are considered much safer than others.

What You Need to Know About Travel Alerts

The State Department issues short-term travel alerts for a variety of reasons. Some instances for issuing an alert can include a health alert, a belief or evidence that there is a higher chance of terrorist attacks or an unstable election season, with a higher risk of disturbances, demonstrations or attacks. While such advisories are a short-term measure, it's still important to assess the specifc risk associated with the destinations you want to visit. Take Europe, for example. Why cancel or postpone a trip Slovenia because of a situation in Belgium?

[See: 9 Ways to Travel Better .]

The Bottom Line

Instead of delaying or halting a trip altogether, evaluate the State Department's travel alerts and warnings for what they are: resourceful alerts and safety precautions. Heed them, acknowledge them, make informed choices and take necessary safety measures , but ultimately know that the world offers welcoming and safe places that broaden your cultural understanding and perspective and are worth seeing for yourself.

Tags: Travel , State Department , Travel Tips , Hotels and Resorts

About En Route

Practical advice on the art of traveling smarter with tips, tricks and intel from En Route's panel of experts.

Contributors have experience in areas ranging from family travel, adventure travel, experiential travel and budget travel to hotels, cruises and travel rewards and include Amy Whitley , Claire Volkman , Holly Johnson , Marsha Dubrow , Lyn Mettler , Sery Kim , Kyle McCarthy , Erica Lamberg , Jess Moss , Sheryl Nance-Nash , Sherry Laskin , Katie Jackson , Erin Gifford , Roger Sands , Steve Larese , Gwen Pratesi , Erin Block , Dave Parfitt , Kacey Mya , Kimberly Wilson , Susan Portnoy , Donna Tabbert Long and Kitty Bean Yancey .

Edited by Liz Weiss .

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

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The CDC Is Changing How It Warns Against Travel Amid COVID-19 — What to Know

Starting next week, the CDC will only classify a destination under its highest "Level 4" warning under "special circumstances."

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated the way it warns against traveling to destinations and countries as the world still grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Going forward, the agency will relax its definition for "Level 4" destinations, which it has used in the past to warn Americans against "very high" levels of COVID-19 transmission, advising travelers to "avoid" going there, the agency announced on Wednesday .

"CDC uses Travel Health Notices to alert travelers and other audiences to health threats around the world and advise on how to protect themselves before, during, and after travel," the agency wrote in its advisory. "With this new configuration, travelers will have a more actionable alert for when they should not travel to a certain destination (Level 4), regardless of vaccination status, until we have a clearer understanding of the COVID-19 situation at that destination."

Starting next week, the CDC will only classify a destination under its highest "Level 4" warning under "special circumstances, such as rapidly escalating case trajectory or extremely high case counts, emergence of a new variant of concern, or healthcare infrastructure collapse." It was not immediately clear which destinations would fit the new description.

Over the last few weeks, the CDC has lowered its warning against many places , including several Caribbean islands, but still classifies 89 destinations under "Level 4," encompassing much of Europe. The agency said the new classification system will go into effect on April 18.

Previously, destinations were classified as "Level 4" if there were more than 500 COVID-19 cases reported per 100,000 people over the last 28 days. The agency said it would continue to classify its other levels under the same 28-day case rates.

The decision to change the classification system comes as the CDC extended the federal transportation mask mandate in the United States for two more weeks, citing rising COVID-19 case numbers across the country. The mandate, which was initially set to expire on April 18 , has been extended until May 3 so the agency can assess "the potential impact of the rise of cases on severe disease, including hospitalizations and deaths, and healthcare system capacity."

Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. When she's not in New York City, she likes to spend her time at the beach or exploring new destinations and hopes to visit every country in the world. Follow her adventures on Instagram .

The Difference Between Travel Alerts and Travel Warnings

By Danica Lo

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These days, travel alerts and warnings seem ubiquitous—ingrained in our public consciousness via the Internet and social media, transmitted from the annals of the State Department to first class lounges and boarding areas and everywhere in between. Yesterday, the U.S. government re-upped its March 2015 warning against American citizens traveling to Iran, especially, emphatically, for travelers holding dual Iranian and American citizenship.

It was the fifth State Department warning this month alone—after Honduras, the Democratic Republic of Congo, North Korea, and Cameroon. Last month, the department issued a warning against travel to Turkey a day before the Ataturk airport bombing , which they renewed following the attempted military coup on July 15. It followed eight others in July: Mali, Iraq, Venezuela, Bangladesh, Sudan, Haiti, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon.

With everything happening in the world today, it can be hard to know what to do when confronted with new, potentially unnerving, information. But what are the actual differences between a warning and an alert—and should you cancel your trip ? It depends.

What is a travel warning?

According to the State Department, a travel warning is a broad-reaching caution—for when the government wants you to "consider very carefully whether you should go to a country at all." Travel warnings may stem from unstable governance, extenuating circumstances, frequent violence and terrorist attacks, or civil war.

How long do travel warnings last?

Of the two, travel warnings tend to stay in place for much longer than travel alerts: "Travel warnings remain in place until the situation changes; some have been in effect for years." For example, the warning against travel to the Darfur, Blue Nile, and Southern Kordofan regions of the Sudan were most recently updated in January this year—from an original warning that was published in June 2015.

What is a travel alert?

Travel alerts are issued on the heels of specific, one-off events. According to the State Department, examples of reasons for issuing an alert might include an election season that could mean strikes, demonstrations, or disturbances; a health alert like an outbreak of H1N1; or evidence of an elevated risk of terrorist attacks. These travel alerts are usually assigned an expiration date weeks or months in the near future. For example, the travel alert issued for Europe in May , following attacks in France and ahead of June's UEFA European Championship soccer tournament and the Tour de France, expires at the end of this month.

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Which is more serious—a travel warning or a travel alert?

The short answer? It depends. While a travel alert is issued on the heels of what intelligence and government sources consider a one-off or short-term event (for example, the anti-government protests in Ethiopia ) with temporary repercussions that may appear to have more imminent danger, travel warnings are often rooted in longer-term instability endemic to a region that poses a great risk to travelers (like the conflict in Syria ).

Should I cancel my trip?

Every trip is different—and it's important to consider your own, individual circumstances when deciding whether or not to call off travel plans. The most important thing to remember when an unexpected warning or alert is issued is to keep threats in perspective . "By all means, we should review the State Department’s warnings and alerts," Traveler 's Ombudsman Eric Jordan wrote earlier this year. "Then, rather than avoid travel, we can take the precautions we believe are reasonable."

What about travel health warnings?

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issue their own set of travel notices separate from the State Department. In addition to providing information on communicable diseases particular to regions and countries around the world, the CDC site also features recommendations for precautions and inoculations on a country-by-country basis—including the United States .

Remember...

The State Department also maintains a Worldwide Caution page, which is continually updated with "information on the continuing threat of terrorist actions and violence against U.S. citizens and interests throughout the world." It also hosts a find-your-closest-embassy directory for consular assistance and help in case of an emergency.

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Places the U.S. Government Warns Not to Travel Right Now

You may want to reconsider traveling to these countries right now.

Do Not Travel to These Countries

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Crime, civil unrest and terrorism are common risk factors for countries that end up on the State Department's "Do Not Travel" advisory list.

In 2024, tourism across the globe is “well on track” to return to pre-pandemic levels, according to projections by UN Tourism.

Global conflicts and natural disasters , ranging from a series of coups across Africa to catastrophic earthquakes in the Middle East affected international travel patterns throughout 2023. Still, international tourist arrivals reached 87% of pre-pandemic levels in 2023, according to estimates by UN Tourism .

In January 2024 alone, about 4.6 million U.S. citizens left the country for international destinations, 17% higher than the same month in 2019, according to the International Trade Administration . But some destinations warrant more caution than others.

On Oct. 19, 2023, following the outbreak of war between Israel and Gaza and flaring tensions in the region, the U.S. State Department issued a worldwide caution advisory due to “increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests.” Prior to this update, the most recent worldwide caution advisory was issued in 2022 after a U.S. strike killed Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden’s successor as leader of Al Qaeda, causing “a higher potential for anti-American violence.” The worldwide caution advisory remains in effect.

The U.S. State Department also issues individual travel advisory levels for more than 200 countries globally, continually updating them based on a variety of risk indicators such as health, terrorism and civil unrest. Travel advisory levels range from Level 1, which means exercise normal precautions, to Level 4, which means do not travel there.

About 10% of countries – 19 total – have a Level 4: “Do Not Travel” advisory as of Mar. 4. In Level 4 countries, the U.S. government may have “very limited ability” to step in should travelers’ safety or security be at risk, according to the State Department. Crime, civil unrest, kidnapping and terrorism are common risk factors associated with Level 4 countries.

So far in 2024, the State Department made changes to the existing Level 4 advisories for Myanmar, Iran and Gaza, and moved Niger and Lebanon off of the Level 4 list.

Places With a Level 4 Travel Advisory

These are the primary areas the U.S. government says not to travel to right now, in alphabetical order:

Jump to Place: Afghanistan Belarus Burkina Faso Central African Republic Myanmar (formerly Burma) Gaza Haiti Iran Iraq Libya Mali Mexico North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) Russia Somalia South Sudan Sudan Syria Ukraine Venezuela Yemen

Afghanistan: The Central Asian country is wrestling with “terrorism, risk of wrongful detention, kidnapping and crime,” according to the State Department. U.S. citizens are specifically at risk for wrongful detention and kidnapping. In 2022, the government reinstituted public floggings and executions, and women’s rights are disappearing under Taliban control. The U.S. Embassy in Kabul halted operations in August 2021. Since the Taliban took control , many forms of international aid have been halted . Meanwhile, in 2023, some of the year’s deadliest earthquakes killed more than 2,400 in Afghanistan while the country continues to face a years-long extreme drought.

Belarus: Belarus, which shares a western border with Russia and a southern border with Ukraine, has been flagged for “Belarusian authorities’ continued facilitation of Russia’s war against Ukraine, the buildup of Russian military forces in Belarus, the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, the potential of civil unrest, the risk of detention, and the Embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens residing in or traveling to Belarus.” The U.S. Embassy in Minsk halted operations in February 2022.

Burkina Faso: Terrorism, crime and kidnapping are plaguing this West African nation. Terrorist attacks may target hotels, restaurants and schools with little to no warning, and the East and Sahel regions of the country are under a state of emergency. In late November 2023, hundreds died in clashes between state security forces and rebels near the country’s border with Mali. In June, more than 2 million people in Burkina Faso were displaced due to “violence linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.”

Central African Republic: While there have not been specific incidents of U.S. citizens targeted with violence or crime, violent crime and sudden closure of roads and borders is common. The advisory states that “Embassy Bangui’s limited capacity to provide support to U.S. citizens, crime, civil unrest, and kidnapping” is a factor in its assessment. Recent data from UNICEF suggests the country has the worst drinking water accessibility of all countries in 2022.

Myanmar (Formerly Burma): Armed conflict and civil unrest are the primary reasons to not travel to this Southeast Asian country, which experienced a military coup in early 2021. Limited health care resources, wrongful detentions and “areas with land mines and unexploded ordnance” are also listed as risk factors. After Ukraine and Israel, Myanmar had the highest conflict-related death toll in 2023.

Gaza : Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization as designated by the State Department, controls much of the Gaza Strip, which shares borders with both Israel and Egypt. On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas fighters broke across the border into Israel, killing hundreds of civilians and soldiers in a brazen attack that stunned Israelis. On Oct. 10, Israel hit the Gaza Strip with “the fiercest air strikes in its 75-year conflict” according to Reuters . The conflict has since escalated into war between Israel and Hamas, with regular Israeli airstrikes leading to extensive civilian casualties in Gaza. As of mid-December, nearly 85% of Gaza’s population were displaced from their homes, according to UN estimates . The region continues to face shortages of food , water, electricity and medical supplies , with conditions deemed “far beyond a humanitarian crisis.” The State Department warns of terrorism and armed conflict within Gaza’s borders.

Haiti: In July 2023, the Department of State ordered all non-emergency U.S. government personnel and family members to leave the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince in response to the increased risk of kidnapping and violent crime in the country , as well as armed conflict between gangs and police. The travel advisory states that cases of kidnapping “often involve ransom negotiations and U.S. citizen victims have been physically harmed during kidnappings.” The travel advisory also states that “U.S. citizens in Haiti should depart Haiti as soon as possible” given “the current security situation and infrastructure challenges.” A series of gang attacks in late September 2023 caused thousands to flee their homes, and many aid groups have been forced to cut or suspend operations amid escalating violence in recent months.

Iran: Terrorism, kidnapping and civil unrest are risk factors for all travelers to Iran, while U.S. citizens are specifically at risk for “arbitrary arrest.” U.S.-Iranian nationals such as students, journalists and business travelers have been arrested on charges of espionage and threatening national security. Executions in Iran rose sharply between 2021 and 2022, bringing the country’s total to nearly 580 people over the year, according to a report by Amnesty International released in May 2023.

Iraq: The State Department cites “terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict [and] civil unrest” as cause for the country’s Level 4 distinction. Iraq’s northern borders, and its border with Syria, are especially dangerous. Since the escalation of conflict in neighboring Israel in October, there has been an increase in attacks against Iraqi military bases, which host U.S. troops and other international forces. In October 2023, non-emergency U.S. government personnel and eligible family members were ordered to leave the U.S. embassy in Baghdad.

Libya: Following the end of its dictatorship over a decade ago, Libya has been wrought with internal conflict between armed groups in the East and West. Armed conflict, civil unrest, crime, kidnapping and terrorism are all risk factors. U.S. citizens have been targets of kidnapping for ransom, with terrorists targeting hotels and airports frequented by Westerners. The U.S. Embassy in Tripoli halted operations in 2014. In mid-September 2023, floods, which some say were intensified by climate change , killed thousands in eastern Libya. Clashes between armed factions escalated across the country in the latter half of 2023, including in the capital city of Tripoli and in Benghazi.

Mali: After experiencing military coups in 2020 and 2021, crime, terrorism and kidnapping are all prevalent threats in this West African landlocked nation. In July 2022, non-emergency U.S. government employees and their families were ordered to leave the country due to higher risk of terrorist activity. A U.N. report in August 2023 said that military groups in the country, including both Mali security forces and possibly Russian Wagner mercenaries, were spreading terror through the use of violence against women and human rights abuses. Democratic elections were supposed to occur in February 2024, but Mali’s military junta postponed the plans indefinitely. In December, the U.N. officially ended a decade-long peacekeeping presence in the country, which had been among the agency’s deadliest missions, with hundreds of the mission personnel killed since 2013.

Mexico: Each state in Mexico is assessed separately for travel advisory levels. Six of the 32 states in Mexico are designated as Level 4: Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas. Crime and kidnapping are listed as the primary risk factors throughout the country. Nearly 112,000 people were missing across the country as of October, a number the U.N. has called “alarming.”

North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea): U.S. passports are not valid for travel “to, in, or through” this country, home to one of the world's longest-running dynastic dictatorships. The travel advisory states that the Level 4 distinction is due to “the continuing serious risk of arrest and long-term detention of U.S. nationals.” In July 2023, a U.S. soldier fled across the border into North Korea, where he is believed to be in North Korean custody, the first American detained in the North in nearly five years. He was returned to U.S. custody in September 2023.

Russia: The travel advisory for Russia cites its invasion of Ukraine , harassment of U.S. citizens by Russian government officials and arbitrary law enforcement as a few of the reasons for the Level 4 designation. Chechnya and Mount Elbrus are specifically listed as Level 4 regions. Terrorism, civil unrest, health, kidnapping and wrongful detention are all noted as risks.

Russia Invades Ukraine: A Timeline

TOPSHOT - Black smoke rises from a military airport in Chuguyev near Kharkiv  on February 24, 2022. - Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine today with explosions heard soon after across the country and its foreign minister warning a "full-scale invasion" was underway. (Photo by Aris Messinis / AFP) (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Somalia: A severe drought resulting from five failed rainy seasons in a row killed 43,000 people in 2022, and caused a famine amid conflict with Islamist insurgents . Violent crime is common throughout Somalia , pirates frequent its coast off the Horn of Africa, and medical facilities, where they exist, have limited capacity. Crime, terrorism, civil unrest, health and kidnapping are all risk factors. In January 2024, some passengers aboard a U.N.-contracted helicopter were taken hostage by al-Shabaab militants after the vehicle crashed in central Somalia.

South Sudan: Crime, kidnapping and armed conflict are the primary risk factors for South Sudan, which separated from Sudan in 2011, making it the world’s newest country . Weapons are readily available, and travelers have been victims of sexual assault and armed robbery.

Sudan: The U.S. evacuated its embassy in Khartoum in April 2023, and the country closed its airspace due to the ongoing conflict in the country, only permitting humanitarian aid and evacuation efforts. Fighting has escalated in the region between two warring generals seeking to gain control after a military coup in 2021 ousted the country’s prime minister. Civil unrest is the primary risk factor for Africa’s third largest country by area. Crime, terrorism, kidnapping and armed conflict are also noted. The International Criminal Court began investigating alleged war crimes and violence against African ethnic groups in the country in 2023. Millions have fled their homes due to conflict, and the U.N. has said its efforts to provide aid have been hindered by a lack of support, safety and resources. As recently as December 2023, the United Nations warned of catastrophic famine , with millions of children at-risk for malnutrition .

Syria: The advisory states that “No part of Syria is safe from violence,” with terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, armed conflict and risk of unjust detention all potential risk factors. U.S. citizens are often a target for kidnappings and detention. The U.S. Embassy in Damascus halted operations in 2012. Fighting in neighboring Israel has escalated since October, and the conflict has spilled over into Syria, where the U.S. has carried out air strikes following drone and rocket attacks against American troops in Syria and Iraq, triggered by the Israel-Hamas war.

Ukraine: Russian setbacks in their invasion of Ukraine buoyed hopes in Ukraine in 2023. However, Ukraine is a Level 4 country due to Russia’s invasion, with crime and civil unrest also noted as risk factors. The country’s forces shot down two Russian fighter jets on Christmas Eve 2023, in a move Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said “sets the right mood for the entire year ahead.”

Venezuela: Human rights abuses and lack of health care plague this South American nation, which has been in a political crisis since 2014. In 2019, diplomatic personnel were withdrawn from the U.S. Embassy in Caracas. Threats in the country include crime, civil unrest, kidnapping, wrongful detention and poor health infrastructure.

Yemen: Six of the nine risk factors defined by the State Department – terrorism, civil unrest, health risks, kidnapping, armed conflict and landmines – are all present in Yemen. Despite private companies offering tourist visits to the Yemeni island of Socotra, the U.S. government argues those arranging such visits “are putting tourists in danger.” Civil war and cholera are also both present throughout the country. The U.S. Embassy in Sanaa halted operations in 2015. The country has experienced a relative lull in the civil war fighting, but as peace negotiations have gotten traction, flare ups in the fighting have jeopardized progress. Most recently, the U.S. and U.K. have carried out a series of airstrikes in the country, targeting Iran-backed Houthi sites.

Other Countries to Watch

Since Jan. 1, the State Department has updated travel advisories for 17 different countries as well as for the West Bank and Gaza, adding information about specific regions or risk factors, or simply renewing an existing advisory. Travel advisory levels can change based on several factors in a nation, such as increased civil unrest, policies that affect human rights or higher risks of unlawful detention.

The State Department has given about 25 countries an assessment of Level 3, meaning it recommends people “reconsider travel” to those destinations.

On Oct. 14, one week after the deadly Hamas attack on Israel, Israel and the West Bank were both moved from Level 2 to Level 3, while Gaza remains at Level 4. The region’s travel advisory was updated in November to reflect travel restrictions for certain government employees who have not already left the area, and it was updated again on Jan. 3.

Following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in early October, the U.S. State Department raised Lebanon ’s travel advisory level from a Level 3 to a Level 4 level due to “the unpredictable security situation related to rocket, missile, and artillery exchanges” between Israel and Hezbollah or other militant groups. In December, the U.S. Embassy in Beirut returned to normal staffing and presence, and on Jan. 29, the country was moved back to Level 3. Crime, terrorism, armed conflict, civil unrest, kidnapping and unexploded landmines are listed as the country’s primary risk factors. However, the country’s borders with Syria and with Israel, as well as refugee settlements within Lebanon, are specifically noted as Level 4 regions.

China became a Level 3 country in late 2020, with an update in December 2022 citing “the surge in COVID-19 cases, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, and COVID-19-related restrictions” as the reason for the advisory. In June 2023, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) was moved from the Level 3 to the Level 2 list, but travelers are still advised to be cautious in the area due to “arbitrary enforcement of local laws.” Meanwhile, Macau remains at Level 3.

Following an attempted coup in August 2023, Niger was elevated to Level 4 in August and the Department of State ordered all non-emergency U.S. government personnel and family members to leave the U.S. Embassy in Niamey. In early January 2024, the overall risk level for the country was lowered back to Level 3. Despite the new classification, the State Department still asks non-emergency government personnel and eligible family members to depart the country.

In mid-December 2023 there was an explosion at Guinea’s main fuel depot which has since affected access to health care and basic goods and services. The country was subsequently designated a Level 3 nation after having previously been Level 2. Concerns about civil unrest, health, crime and fuel shortages impacting local infrastructure were listed as the primary risk factors contributing to the change.

Several Level 3 countries are among the worst countries for human trafficking, as designated by the State Department’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report . Level 3 countries on this list include Papua New Guinea, Guinea Bissau, China and Chad. There are also nine Level 4 countries designated as among the worst for human trafficking: Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, Syria, South Sudan and Venezuela.

Over 70 countries are currently at Level 2, meaning the State Department recommends travelers “exercise increased caution” when traveling to those destinations.

Botswana became the newest Level 2 country on Feb. 26 after having previously been Level 1, with crime noted as the primary risk factor.

France, which saw nationwide protests throughout 2023, has civil unrest and terrorism noted as risk factors for its Level 2 status, and Sweden’s Level 2 status is associated with risks of terrorism.

The Level 2 travel advisory for the Bahamas was updated in January to reflect water safety concerns. The advisory warns that “activities involving commercial recreational watercraft, including water tours, are not consistently regulated” and notes that government personnel are “not permitted to use independently operated jet-ski rentals on New Providence and Paradise Islands.” It also warns visitors to be mindful of sharks, weather and water conditions. The advisory also says that crime is a primary risk factor with gang-on-gang violence contributing to high homicide rates in some areas. Visitors are asked to “be vigilant” and to not physically resist robbery attempts.

Bangladesh 's Level 2 travel advisory was updated in October 2023 to add a note about the country’s general election , which took place Jan. 7, 2024. The advisory states “demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence.” The U.S. has since claimed the country’s election was not free nor fair.

In November 2023, several Level 2 travel advisories were updated with new cautionary information. The advisory for Ghana was updated to reflect threats against LGBTQI+ travelers specifically, noting “anti-LGBTQI+ rhetoric and violence have increased in recent years.” Meanwhile, the advisory for South Africa was updated in February to note that routes recommended by GPS may be unsafe with higher risk for crime.

Turkmenistan was moved off of the Level 2 list to become the newest addition to the Level 1 list on Jan. 22, meaning normal precautions are recommended but there are no risk factors causing travelers to practice increased caution.

The State Department asks travelers to pay attention to travel advisory levels and alerts , review country information pages for their destinations and read related country security reports before going abroad.

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Tags: Russia , Ukraine , Travel , Coronavirus , Travel Tips , Israel , Gaza , violence , Civil War , crime , kidnapping

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The most difficult challenge about messaging is staying on the issues. Even the most experienced communicator will find herself swept toward a collateral issue. This happened when the CDC decided to issue a travel warning. While the expert community understands conservative commentary as responsible behavior, varying the warnings, especially in instances where the gravity of the warning is increasing, leaves the public questioning the competence of the agencies at a point when trust is paramount.

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Berube, D.M. (2023). Travel and Pregnancy Warnings. In: Pandemics and Resilience: Lessons we should have learned from Zika. Risk, Systems and Decisions. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25370-6_16

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Is it safe to travel to Haiti right now? What travelers should know

travel warning concept

The State Department is urging Americans not to travel to Haiti amid fresh gang violence in the country, which declared a state of emergency last week.

While neither the warnings nor violence are entirely new – Haiti has been a Level 4: Do Not Travel destination in State Department travel advisories since before the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse – a spate of recent high-profile attacks, including an attempt by armed gangs to seize control of the country’s main international airport, has sparked renewed urgency. 

“The current security situation in Haiti is unpredictable and dangerous,” the U.S. Embassy in Haiti said in a security alert issued Sunday. “We are aware that there are few or no commercial options to depart Haiti safely at this time. As they become available, we urge U.S. citizens to take advantage of them. The U.S. Embassy’s ability to assist U.S. citizens is severely limited.” 

The U.S. military stepped in to airlift American personnel “into and out of the Embassy” to augment security, U.S. Southern Command said Sunday in a statement to USA TODAY. Meanwhile, U.S. citizens in Haiti can fill out crisis intake forms and enroll in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program program for updates. 

Here’s what airlines and cruise lines are doing about trips to Haiti:

Learn more: Best travel insurance

Haiti violence: Military airlifts American personnel out of embassy as Haiti spirals into violence

Are there direct flights to Haiti?

Three U.S. airlines typically operate direct flights to Haiti: American, JetBlue and Spirit. However, all three have temporarily suspended service and issued travel waivers for the Caribbean destination.

◾ American Airlines customers with flights scheduled to, through, or from Port-au-Prince (PAP) through March 25 may modify flights without paying change fees. Changes must be made by March 25 with the same origin and destination cities as the original booking.

◾ JetBlue Airways is waiving change and cancellation fees for travelers with flights scheduled to and from Port-au-Prince through April 15. Changes can be made through April 30.

◾ Spirit Airlines is waiving change fees and fare differences on travel to, from, or through Cap Haitien (CAP) and Port-au-Prince through April 15. Travelers should rebook by April 30. After that, the airline said change fees would still be waived, but fare differences may apply.

Do cruise ships still go to Haiti?

Royal Caribbean and its sister line Celebrity Cruises normally sail to Labadee, Haiti , a private destination roughly six hours away from Port-au-Prince by car. However Royal Caribbean is skipping several previously scheduled stops, in coming days.

The following sailings will not go to Labadee.

  • Adventure of the Seas – 3/15 sailing 
  • Mariner of the Seas – 3/16 sailing
  • Explorer of the Seas – 3/17 sailing 
  • Oasis of the Seas – 3/17 sailing 
  • Symphony of the Seas – 3/17 sailing  
  • Grandeur of the Seas – 3/18 sailing 

"The safety and security of our guests, crew, and communities we visit are our top priority," a Royal Caribbean spokesperson said in a statement to USA TODAY. "Our Global Security and Intel Team is closely monitoring the evolving situation in Haiti, and in an abundance of caution, we are temporarily making adjustments to sailings visiting Labadee. We will continue to monitor and reassess calls as needed, and will communicate updates with guests directly."

As recently as Monday, the cruise line had not canceled any sailings to Labadee, but was keeping a close on the situation while noting that it had private security in the area, which was closed to the public.

It doesn’t look like any Celebrity cruises are scheduled there until fall.

Eve Chen is a travel reporter  for USA TODAY based in Atlanta. You can reach her at [email protected].

U.S. warns tourists ‘do not travel’ to this Caribbean destination due to kidnappings and gang violence

  • Updated: Mar. 15, 2024, 9:12 p.m. |
  • Published: Mar. 14, 2024, 1:05 p.m.

U.S. Department of State Haiti Travel Advisory 2024

The U.S. Department of State has issued a Level 4 travel advisory, urging U.S. citizens not to travel to the island country as it is overwhelmed by political unrest, increased gang activity, violent crime, kidnapping and poor health care infrastructure. Canva

  • Katherine Rodriguez | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The U.S. government has issued another travel advisory ahead of spring break .

The U.S. Department of State released a formal warning not to travel to Haiti and urged American citizens there now to leave immediately due to the rise in gang violence, crime, political unrest, kidnapping and poor health care infrastructure.

The Level 4 travel advisory comes after one of the country’s most notorious gang leaders, Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier, held an armed rebellion and forced Prime Minister Ariel Henry to formally resign on March 12 .

“Kidnapping is widespread, and victims regularly include U.S. citizens,” the warning added.

Many U.S. citizens, who have been kidnapped, were physically harmed and held at ransom, causing families of victims to pay thousands to save them.

Violent crime involving firearms is common, including armed robbery and carjackings. “Travelers are sometimes followed and violently attacked and robbed shortly after leaving the Port-au-Prince International Airport,” according to the travel advisory.

Protests and roadblocks, many of which become violent, occur often and are unpredictable. The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services. Assistance falls on local authorities, like the Haitian National Police and ambulance services, but they have limited resources to respond effectively.

Also, the country has an outbreak of cholera , according to the Haitian Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP).

However, for U.S. citizens who decide to travel to Haiti, the U.S. State Department offers the following guidance :

  • Stay away from demonstrations and crowds, and avoid roadblocks.
  • Coordinate for your host meet you once you arrive at the airport or schedule airport transfers and hotels before arriving in the country.
  • Do not give unauthorized individuals, including people without official uniforms or credentials, your personal information in the immigration, customs or other areas inside or near any airports.
  • Drive to the nearest police station immediately, if you notice someone following you when you leave the airport.
  • Travel by vehicle to avoid walking in public when possible.
  • “Travel in groups of at least two people.”
  • Always lock vehicle doors and close your windows while you are driving.
  • Be cautious and alert at all times, “especially when you are driving through markets and other traffic congested areas.”
  • “Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.”
  • Before your scheduled travel, buy travel insurance and medical evacuation insurance.
  • “Review information on Travel to High-Risk Areas .”
  • Sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get important alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
  • “Follow the Department of State on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) .”
  • “Review the Country Security Report on Haiti.”
  • “Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist .”

You can find more information about the travel advisory, further safety guidance and U.S. Embassy contact details here .

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com .

Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at [email protected] . Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips .

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

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London, UK - March 16, 2019: Allergies and intolerances sign at a vegan pizza food stand inside Greenwich Market, the only market in London that is set within a World Heritage Site.

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Increase in Global and Domestic Measles Cases and Outbreaks: Ensure Children in the United States and Those Traveling Internationally 6 Months and Older are Current on MMR Vaccination

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Distributed via the CDC Health Alert Network March 18, 2024, 12:30 PM ET CDCHAN-00504

Summary The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to inform clinicians and public health officials of an increase in global and U.S. measles cases and to provide guidance on measles prevention for all international travelers aged ≥6 months and all children aged ≥12 months who do not plan to travel internationally. Measles (rubeola) is highly contagious; one person infected with measles can infect 9 out of 10 unvaccinated individuals with whom they come in close contact. From January 1 to March 14, 2024, CDC has been notified of 58 confirmed U.S. cases of measles across 17 jurisdictions, including seven outbreaks in seven jurisdictions compared to 58 total cases and four outbreaks reported the entire year in 2023. Among the 58 cases reported in 2024, 54 (93%) were linked to international travel. Most cases reported in 2024 have been among children aged 12 months and older who had not received measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. Many countries, including travel destinations such as Austria, the Philippines, Romania, and the United Kingdom, are experiencing measles outbreaks. To prevent measles infection and reduce the risk of community transmission from importation, all U.S. residents traveling internationally, regardless of destination, should be current on their MMR vaccinations. Healthcare providers should ensure children are current on routine immunizations, including MMR. Given currently high population immunity against measles in most U.S. communities, the risk of widescale spread is low. However, pockets of low coverage leave some communities at higher risk for outbreaks.

Background Measles is a highly contagious viral illness and can cause severe health complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), and death, especially in unvaccinated persons. Measles typically begins with a prodrome of fever, cough, coryza (runny nose), and conjunctivitis (pink eye), lasting 2 to 4 days before rash onset. The incubation period for measles from exposure to fever is usually about 10 days (range 7 to 12 days), while rash onset is typically visible around 14 days (range 7 to 21 days) after initial exposure. The virus is transmitted through direct contact with infectious droplets or by airborne spread when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes, and can remain infectious in the air and on surfaces for up to 2 hours after an infected person leaves an area. Individuals infected with measles are contagious from 4 days before the rash starts through 4 days afterward.

Declines in measles vaccination rates globally have increased the risk of measles outbreaks worldwide, including in the United States. Measles cases continue to be brought into the United States by travelers who are infected while in other countries. As a result, domestic measles outbreaks have been reported in most years, even following the declaration of U.S. measles elimination in 2000. Most importations come from unvaccinated U.S. residents.

Measles is almost entirely preventable through vaccination. MMR vaccines are safe and highly effective, with two doses being 97% effective against measles (one dose is 93% effective). When more than 95% of people in a community are vaccinated (coverage >95%) most people are protected through community immunity (herd immunity). However, vaccination coverage among U.S. kindergartners has decreased from 95.2% during the 2019–2020 school year to 93.1% in the 2022–2023 school year, leaving approximately 250,000 kindergartners susceptible to measles each year over the last three years. Thirty-six states plus the District of Columbia (DC) had less than 95% MMR coverage among kindergartners during the 2022–2023 school year. Of states with less than 95% MMR coverage, ten reported more than 5% of kindergartners had medical and nonmedical exemptions, highlighting the importance of targeted efforts at increasing vaccine confidence and access.

Recommendations for Healthcare Providers

  • Schools, early childhood education providers, and healthcare providers should work to ensure students are current with MMR vaccine .
  • Children who are not traveling internationally should receive their first dose of MMR at age 12 to 15 months and their second dose at 4 to 6 years.
  • Infants aged 6 through 11 months should receive one dose of MMR vaccine before departure. Infants who receive a dose of MMR vaccine before their first birthday should receive two more doses of MMR vaccine, the first of which should be administered when the child is age 12 through 15 months and the second at least 28 days later.
  • Children aged 12 months or older should receive two doses of MMR vaccine, separated by at least 28 days.
  • Teenagers and adults without evidence of measles immunity should receive two doses of MMR vaccine separated by at least 28 days.
  • At least one of the following is considered evidence of measles immunity for international travelers: 1) birth before 1957, 2) documented administration of two doses of live measles virus vaccine (MMR, MMRV, or other measles-containing vaccine), or 3) laboratory (serologic) proof of immunity or laboratory confirmation of disease.
  • Isolate: Do not allow patients with suspected measles to remain in the waiting room or other common areas of a healthcare facility; isolate patients with suspected measles immediately, ideally in a single-patient airborne infection isolation room (AIIR) if available, or in a private room with a closed door until an AIIR is available. Healthcare providers should be adequately protected against measles and should adhere to standard and airborne precautions when evaluating suspect cases, regardless of their vaccination status. Healthcare providers without evidence of immunity should be excluded from work from day 5 after the first exposure until day 21 following their last exposure. Offer testing outside of facilities to avoid transmission in healthcare settings. Call ahead to ensure immediate isolation for patients referred to hospitals for a higher level of care.
  • Notify: Immediately notify state, tribal, local, or territorial health departments ( 24-hour Epi On Call contact list ) about any suspected case of measles to ensure rapid testing and investigation. States report measles cases to CDC.
  • Test: Follow CDC’s testing recommendations and collect either a nasopharyngeal swab, throat swab, and/or urine for reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and a blood specimen for serology from all patients with clinical features compatible with measles. RT-PCR is available at many state public health laboratories, through the APHL Vaccine Preventable Disease Reference Centers, and at CDC. Given potential shortages in IgM test kits, providers should be vigilant in contacting their state or local health department for guidance on testing.
  • Manage: In coordination with local or state health departments, provide appropriate measles post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) as soon as possible after exposure to close contacts without evidence of immunity, either with MMR (within 72 hours) or immunoglobulin (within 6 days). The choice of PEP is based on elapsed time from exposure or medical contraindications to vaccination.

Recommendations for Health Departments

Measles is an immediately notifiable disease. State, tribal, local, and territorial health departments have the lead in disease investigations and should report measles cases and outbreaks within 24 hours through the state health department to CDC ( [email protected] ) and through NNDSS .

  • Establish measles case reporting from healthcare facilities, providers, and laboratories to public health authorities.
  • If measles is identified, conduct active surveillance for additional (secondary) cases and facilitate transportation of specimens immediately to confirm diagnosis.
  • Record and report details about cases of measles, including adherence to recommended precautions and facility location(s) of index and secondary cases.
  • Enhance outreach and communications to under-vaccinated communities through trusted messengers.

Recommendations for Parents and International Travelers

  • Even if not traveling, ensure that children receive all recommended doses of MMR vaccine. Two doses of MMR vaccine provide better protection (97%) against measles than one dose (93%). Getting MMR vaccine is much safer than getting measles, mumps, or rubella.
  • Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of getting infected when they travel internationally. Before international travel, check your destination and CDC’s Global Measles Travel Health Notice for more travel health advice, including where measles outbreaks have been reported.
  • Parents traveling internationally with children should consult with their child’s healthcare provider to ensure that they are current with their MMR vaccinations at least 2 weeks before travel. Infants aged 6 to 11 months should have one documented dose and children aged 12 months and older should have two documented doses of MMR vaccine before international travel. Depending on where you are going and what activities you plan, other vaccines may be recommended too.
  • After international travel, watch for signs and symptoms of measles for 3 weeks after returning to the United States. If you or your child gets sick with a rash and a high fever, call your healthcare provider. Tell them you traveled to another country and whether you or your child have received MMR vaccine.

For More Information

  • Measles Vaccines for Children | CDC
  • Plan for Travel – Measles | CDC
  • Global Measles Situation | CDC
  • Measles: Information for Public Health Professionals | CDC
  • CDC Measles Toolkit for Health Departments
  • Partnering for Vaccine Equity | CDC
  • Vaccine Preventable Diseases | APHL
  • Measles One-Pager for Healthcare Providers | Project Firstline and AAP
  • Immunization Schedules | CDC
  • Safety Information for Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccines | CDC
  • For Healthcare Professionals – Diagnosing and Treating Measles | CDC
  • Interim Measles Infection Prevention Recommendations in Healthcare Settings | CDC
  • Measles – Vaccine Preventable Diseases Surveillance Manual | CDC
  • Rubeola / Measles | CDC Yellow Book 2024
  • Measles Lab Tools | CDC
  • Measles Serology | CDC
  • Measles Specimen Collection, Storage, and Shipment | CDC
  • Test Directory | Submitting Specimens to CDC | Infectious Diseases Laboratories | CDC
  • Webinar Thursday, August 17, 2023 – We Must Maintain Measles Elimination in the United States: Measles Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis, and Prevention (cdc.gov) (Free CE)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protects people’s health and safety by preventing and controlling diseases and injuries; enhances health decisions by providing credible information on critical health issues; and promotes healthy living through strong partnerships with local, national and international organizations.

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  • Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
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Travel Warnings In Usa: What You Need To Know Before You Go – 2024

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  • March 2, 2024
  • 6 minute read

Travel Warnings In Usa

Table of Contents

Are you planning to visit the United States quickly? If so, you are probably wondering about the modern travel state of affairs in the country, in particular amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Well, you’re not by myself. Many tourists are curious approximately the ultra-modern tour advisories and warnings for America, and how they might affect their ride.

In this article, I will share with you a few vital information and suggestions about travel warnings in the USA, primarily based on reliable sources and my non-public revel. I will also answer some often-asked questions (FAQs) which you may have. By giving up on this, you will have a better concept of what to expect and a way to put together your trip to America. Let’s get started!

What are travel warnings and advisories?

Travel warnings and advisories are issued through the U.S. Department of State to inform vacationers about the ability dangers and demanding situations they could face in a positive vacation spot. They are primarily based on various factors, which include the level of COVID-19 transmission, the provision of business flights, the restrictions on U.S. Citizen access, and the impediments to acquiring COVID-19 take a look at outcomes within 3 calendar days.

The travel warnings and advisories are updated regularly, and they use a four-level system to indicate the degree of risk: travel warnings in usa

Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

Level 3: Reconsider Travel

Level 4: Do Not Travel

You can take a look at the present-day tour warnings and advisories for us and other nations on the U.S. Department of State internet site.

Travel Warnings In Usa

  • What is the current travel warning for the USA?

As of March eleven, 2024, the U.S. Department of State has issued a Level Three: Reconsider Travel warning for the USA, due to the high degree of COVID-19 cases and deaths within the country. This way travelers must weigh the risks and blessings of journeying to the United States, and take extra precautions to shield their fitness and safety.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has additionally issued a Level 4: Very High Level of COVID-19 caution for the USA, advising vacationers to avoid all journeys to the country2. The CDC warns that even completely vaccinated travelers may be susceptible to getting and spreading COVID-19 versions and that tourists need to follow all of the hints and requirements earlier than, at some stage in, and after their trip2.

What are the entry requirements for the USA?

If you decide to travel to America, you should be aware of the entry necessities that follow you, depending on your nationality, visa repute, and vaccination fame. Here are a number of the overall access requirements for America: Travel Warnings In Usa

You must have a legitimate passport and a visa or an accredited Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) to enter the United States until you are a U.S. Citizen or a permanent resident, or you’re eligible for the Visa Waiver Program (VWP)3.

You need to have a poor COVID-19 take a look at the result taken 3 days before your departure, or proof of healing from COVID-19 within the beyond 90 days, irrespective of your vaccination status4.

You should put on a mask on planes, buses, trains, and different forms of public transportation, and in airports and stations4.

You must follow the kingdom and neighborhood COVID-19 policies and suggestions on your destination, which may additionally include quarantine, testing, and social distancing measures4.

You must get tested 3 to five days after your arrival, and self-quarantine for seven days, even if you are fully vaccinated4.

You can find extra exact and up-to-date information approximately the entry necessities for America at the CDC website and the [U.S. Embassy website] to your United States of America.

Travel Warnings In Usa

What are the travel tips for the USA?

Besides following the access requirements and the travel warnings and advisories, you need to additionally take a few additional steps to make your trip to America more secure and smoother. Here are some journey suggestions for us that I advise: Travel Warnings in the USA

Check the climate and p.C. As a consequence. The USA is a big and numerous country, with extraordinary climates and seasons. You ought to take a look at the weather forecast for your destination and p.C. The appropriate clothing and accessories. For instance, in case you are journeying Alaska in iciness, you may need heat and water-proof garments, boots, gloves, and hats. If you’re touring Florida in the summer season, you will want light and breathable clothes, sunscreen, shades, and hats.

Get journey insurance. Travel insurance is a must-have for any trip, especially for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. Travel insurance can cover your clinical prices, trip cancellation, lost or stolen luggage, and other unforeseen activities. You must examine exclusive journey coverage plans and choose the one that fits your desires and price range. You have to additionally study the great print and understand what is covered and what is not.

Plan your itinerary and price range. The USA has lots to provide for tourists, from iconic landmarks and herbal wonders to colorful cities and cultural attractions. You have to plan your itinerary and budget time and prioritize the locations and sports that interest you the maximum. You should also aspect inside the transportation, lodging, food, and entertainment charges, and look for ways to keep money, consisting of reserving earlier, the use of public transportation, and taking advantage of discounts and offers.

Be respectful and courteous. The USA is a numerous and multicultural country, with humans from extraordinary backgrounds, beliefs, and lives. You must be respectful and courteous to the locals and different travelers, and comply with the social norms and etiquette. For example, you ought to tip at least 15% for your career, say “please” and “thank you” whilst inquiring about something, and avoid talking about sensitive subjects, together as politics, religion, and race.

FAQs –  travel warnings in usa

Here are some of the often requested questions (FAQs) which you would in all likelihood have approximately journey warnings inside the USA: adventure warnings in the S.A.

Q: Can I tour the United States if I am vaccinated?

A: Yes, you could excursion to the United States in case you are simply vaccinated, however, you still want to comply with the get entry to necessities and the excursion warnings and advisories. You also need to take precautions to protect yourself and others from COVID-19, along with carrying a mask, keeping off crowds, and washing your hands regularly.

Q: What are the great locations to visit in the USA?

A: The USA has many fantastic locations to go to, depending on your options and pursuits. Some of the maximum popular locations to go to in the USA are:

New York City, is the maximum populous and cosmopolitan city in the u. S . A ., is recognized for its skyscrapers, museums, parks, and nightlife.

Los Angeles, the entertainment capital of the arena, is regarded for its Hollywood, seashores, topic parks, and celebrities.

Las Vegas, the playing and entertainment mecca, is acknowledged for its casinos, suggestions, accommodations, and nightlife.

San Francisco, the cultural and technological hub, is recognized for its Golden Gate Bridge, cable vehicles, hills, and diversity.

Washington, D.C., the capital and political center of the United States of America, is regarded for its monuments, museums, and history.

Grand Canyon, one of the natural wonders of the arena, is recounted for its lovely perspectives, hiking, and rafting.

Yellowstone, the number one and largest country-wide park in the US seemed for its geysers, herbal world, and surroundings.

Hawaii, the tropical paradise, is mentioned for its volcanoes, beaches, browsing, and way of life.

Q: How can I stay updated on the tour warnings and advisories for us?

A: You can stay up to date on the tour warnings and advisories for the United States by checking the legitimate resources regularly, which includes the U.S. Department of State internet site, the CDC internet site, and the [U.S. Embassy website] on your country. You can also be a part of up for email indicators and notifications from those sources, and comply with them on social media.

Conclusion –  travel warnings in usa

Traveling to us may be an exciting and profitable experience, but it additionally comes with some stressful situations and risks, specifically at a few stages in the COVID-19 pandemic. You ought to be nicely informed and properly organized earlier than you circulate, and comply with the tour warnings and advisories, the entry requirements, and the adventure tips for the USA. You should additionally be flexible and adaptable, and equipped to deal with any changes or emergencies that would occur.

I hope this weblog put up has helped you examine greater approximately tour warnings in the USA and the way to plan and revel in your revel. If you’ve got any questions or remarks, please feel free to leave them below. I would love to pay attention to you. Thank you for analyzing, and happy travels!

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NAACP Issues Travel Warning For Florida

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The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) declared a travel warning for the state of Florida, alleging that it “devalues and marginalizes” the concerns faced by communities of color. 

The organization specifically cited on Saturday the state’s treatment of African Americans, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals as the basis for their advisory.

The NAACP’s decision to issue the travel advisory was sparked by Florida’s Republican Governor, Ron DeSantis, rejecting an initial Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies course that included topics on queer theory. 

According to the press release, DeSantis’ stance on the curriculum prompted the NAACP to caution potential travelers about the state’s treatment of marginalized communities.

Governor DeSantis defended his decision, stating that Florida’s education standards already encompass the teaching of Black history and significant aspects of African American culture. In a quote reported by the Associated Press (AP), he emphasized, “We want education and not indoctrination.”

However, DeSantis further stirred controversy by signing the “Stop W.O.K.E. Act,” a law intended to prevent faculty from teaching race in a way that might induce feelings of guilt, anguish, or psychological distress. In November 2022, U.S. District Judge Mark Walker blocked the legislation, condemning it as “positively dystopian.”

The NAACP has issued a travel advisory for Florida, joining other civil rights groups in warning potential tourists that recent laws championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis are “openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals.” https://t.co/EjqTKGT98U — The Associated Press (@AP) May 21, 2023

Reacting to these developments, NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson expressed his disappointment, stating, “Failing to teach an accurate representation of the horrors and inequalities that Black Americans have faced and continue to face is a disservice to students and a dereliction of duty to all.” Johnson asserted that Florida, under DeSantis’ leadership, has become “hostile to Black Americans” and stands in “direct conflict with the democratic ideals” upon which the country was founded.

NAACP Chair of the Board of Directors, Leon Russell, echoed these sentiments, proclaiming, “We will not allow our rights and history to be held hostage for political grandstanding.” Russell called upon fellow Floridians to join the fight against what he described as “malicious attacks” on Black Americans, emphasizing the need to protect democracy.

NAACP President Derrick Johnson concluded by stating, “We’re not backing down, and we encourage our allies to join us in the battle for the soul of our nation.” The organization remains steadfast in its commitment to combating the marginalization of communities of color and defending the rights and history of African Americans in Florida and beyond.

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Irs whistleblower: federal prosecutors are obstructing hunter biden investigation.

Middle East Crisis Netanyahu Rebuffs Biden and Vows to Press Ahead With Rafah Invasion

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  • Aid trucks guarded by armed men entering Gaza City in the early hours of Tuesday. Reuters
  • A Palestinian family in a damaged building breaking the fast during Ramadan in Rafah, Gaza. Haitham Imad/EPA, via Shutterstock
  • Palestinians searching for missing people under the rubble of a destroyed home in Nuseirat, central Gaza, on Tuesday. Mohammed Saber/EPA, via Shutterstock
  • A Palestinian family breaking the fast in Rafah, Gaza. Associated Press
  • A woman praying near a memorial in Tel Aviv for those killed or taken hostage on Oct. 7. Oded Balilty/Associated Press
  • Palestinians fleeing strikes on Gaza City. Associated Press
  • Police officers in Jerusalem remove ultra-Orthodox Jewish protesters from a demonstration against their conscription into the armed forces. Ahmad Gharabli/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
  • Children waiting for food aid at the Jabaliya refugee camp in Gaza. Mahmoud Essa/Associated Press
  • Palestinians fleeing Gaza City during strikes. Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Netanyahu acknowledges a dispute with the U.S., but says Israel will press on into Rafah.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel brushed aside disagreement with the Biden administration over a planned ground invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah, saying Tuesday that his government would press ahead despite pleas for restraint from the United States and key allies.

Mr. Netanyahu made the remarks to Israeli lawmakers a day after speaking by phone with Mr. Biden, who the White House said had reiterated concerns that invading Rafah would be “a mistake.” Mr. Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said that Israel’s objectives in Rafah “can be done by other means,” and that Mr. Netanyahu had agreed to send a team of Israeli officials to Washington to hear U.S. concerns and to discuss alternatives.

But on Tuesday, Mr. Netanyahu insisted that sending troops into Rafah was necessary to eliminate what he said were Hamas battalions in the city.

“I made it as clear as possible to the president that we are determined to complete the elimination of these battalions in Rafah, and there is no way to do this without a ground incursion,” Mr. Netanyahu said.

Given the forum where the Israeli leader was speaking — a committee of Israel’s parliament, the Knesset — it was unclear whether the intended audience for his comments was primarily domestic, and whether the divisions might be smoothed at the meetings planned in Washington.

But Mr. Netanyahu acknowledged the dispute with the Biden administration over invading Rafah, saying “we all know this.” The United States has expressed increasing concern over civilian deaths in Gaza, but Mr. Netanyahu emphasized on Tuesday that he and Mr. Biden remained on the same page about the main objectives of the war.

“We have a debate with the Americans over the need to enter Rafah, not over the need to eliminate Hamas, but the need to enter Rafah,” he told the lawmakers.

He said that “out of respect for the president,” he had agreed to send a team to Washington so that the U.S. officials could “present us with their ideas, especially on the humanitarian side.”

Vedant Patel, a State Department spokesman, told reporters at a news briefing on Tuesday that the U.S. and Israel were “just squarely in a different place” on the expected invasion of Rafah.

“We have a different strategic viewpoint on what we believe is necessary to help target the key elements of Hamas,” he added.

The Biden administration has repeatedly warned Israel against sending ground troops into Rafah without a plan to get the more than one million Palestinians sheltering there out of harm’s way.

On Monday, Mr. Sullivan said that no such plan had been presented.

Many Palestinians who have fled from fighting in other parts of the Gaza Strip have sought safety in Rafah, obeying Israeli directives to move south. Hundreds of thousands of displaced people are crammed into temporary shelters.

“They went from Gaza City to Khan Younis and then to Rafah,” Mr. Sullivan told reporters. “They have nowhere else to go.”

And Rafah’s limited resources have been exhausted as the population has multiplied. Many people in the city spend their days trying to secure basic needs: finding clean water for drinking and bathing, getting enough food and calming their children when Israeli strikes hit nearby.

— Cassandra Vinograd

The White House says a meeting with Israeli officials on Rafah is expected early next week.

The White House is expected to meet with an Israeli delegation early next week to discuss Israel’s plans for an invasion of Rafah, a point of tension between President Biden and Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, told reporters on Air Force One on Tuesday that the Biden administration expected the Israeli officials to arrive in Washington “likely” early next week.

The leaders are at odds over how to proceed in Rafah. The White House said that Mr. Biden told Mr. Netanyahu on Monday that sending Israeli forces into Rafah, which has become the last refuge for more than half of Gaza’s population, would be disastrous when there are other ways to defeat Hamas.

But Mr. Netanyahu has not moved from his position that he must send troops into Rafah to defeat Hamas, the Palestinian faction that led the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, even though about 1.5 million civilians are currently seeking shelter in the southern city.

“Our view is that there are ways for Israel to prevail in this conflict, to secure its long-term future, to end the terror threat from Gaza, and not smash into Rafah,” Mr. Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said on Monday. “That’s what we’re going to present in this integrated way when this team comes.”

He also said the face-to-face meetings would be necessary to make progress in negotiations between Israel and Hamas on a deal to release Israeli hostages held by Hamas and a cease-fire to the fighting in Gaza.

“We’ve arrived at a point where each side has been making clear to the other its perspective, its view,” Mr. Sullivan said. “And now we really need to get down to brass tacks and have the chance for a delegation from each side on an integrated basis — everyone sitting around the same table, talking through the way forward.”

— Zolan Kanno-Youngs

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Maps: Tracking the Attacks in Israel and Gaza

See where Israel has bulldozed vast areas of Gaza, as its invasion continues to advance south.

How Gazans have fared after Israel has asked them to flee.

For many civilians in Gaza, fleeing from Israeli attacks has become a grim cycle. Israeli evacuation orders have prompted more than a million people to move from one destination to another since October, each time packing belongings and seeking transport — by vehicle, cart or foot — to escape airstrikes and ground fighting between Israel and Hamas.

The latest example is Rafah, in southern Gaza, a city swollen to more than 1.4 million people by forced displacement. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said on Tuesday that his military would invade the city to root out Hamas but that it would provide humanitarian aid and “facilitate an orderly exit of the population.”

Jake Sullivan, the U.S. national security adviser, has said that a major ground invasion in Rafah would be a mistake, not least because it would further imperil humanitarian access. Displacement has contributed to a hunger crisis sweeping the territory, and the United Nations has said that an invasion could mean that an already catastrophic situation slides “deeper into the abyss.”

Some civilians say they have fled time and again . As many people face the prospect of being displaced again, here is a look at what happened on a few occasions when Israel has told civilians to evacuate.

Northern Gaza

Israel began telling more than one million civilians to evacuate northern Gaza about two weeks ahead of its ground invasion on Oct. 27, though the area was pummeled by Israeli airstrikes soon after the Hamas-led attack in Israel on Oct. 7.

“Hamas is using you as a human shield,” Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesman, said on Oct. 22, calling on civilians still in northern Gaza to move south.

The Israeli military also dropped Arabic-language leaflets over the area, warning that anyone who did not move south “may be considered as a partner in a terrorist organization.”

The United Nations said that the evacuation order was impractical, and the U.S. asked Israel to delay its invasion to give civilians more time. Even so, hundreds of thousands of people obeyed the order and moved to southern Gaza, carrying a few possessions away from an area that had already been shattered by airstrikes before the full-scale invasion began.

The south proved to be no escape from peril. An investigation by The New York Times in December found that Israel had used some of the largest and most destructive bombs in its arsenal in southern Gaza, posing a pervasive threat to civilians.

Mr. Netanyahu says that Israel intends to minimize civilian casualties while fighting Hamas, and Israeli officials said that Hamas fighters had set up checkpoints to prevent people from complying with the orders to move.

Khan Younis

In early December, after a one-week cease-fire, Israel launched a major military operation in Khan Younis, southern Gaza’s largest city. Many civilians there had fled to the city from northern Gaza.

The Israeli military again warned civilians to leave parts of Khan Younis for Rafah and other places farther south, though residents said that they sometimes had mere hours of notice. Israel also dropped leaflets over Khan Younis and broadcast information about which parts of the city were safe at any given moment.

Several Palestinians said, however, that the orders to leave Khan Younis, or to move within it, were confusing, not least because they appeared to shift over time and left little opportunity to gather possessions. In addition, obeying the orders meant carting relatives — many of whom had been displaced several times previously — to a new place where the prospects for shelter and basic essentials were uncertain.

Civilians also said that when they fled as instructed, they sometimes found themselves at locations engulfed in fighting or subject to airstrikes.

The most recent designated large scale safe zone is Rafah, which lies against the closed Egyptian border and has been immensely swollen by displacement. Without sufficient accommodations, many of its new residents have pitched makeshift tents.

Rafah has been subject to airstrikes and fighting in recent weeks. In one example, the health authorities in Gaza said on Feb. 12 that at least 67 people had been killed overnight in airstrikes in the city. Israel’s military had launched an operation to rescue two people held hostage in Gaza since the Oct. 7 attack.

The Israeli authorities have asked people at least twice to head to Al-Mawasi, a coastal village in southern Gaza that could be a destination for people asked to leave Rafah. Aid officials have said that the village lacks shelter, humanitarian aid and basic infrastructure.

— Matthew Mpoke Bigg

Israel’s military says its forces are still operating at Al-Shifa Hospital.

The Israeli military said its forces were pressing on with a raid of Al-Shifa Hospital and had detained scores of people there, in an operation that has drawn condemnation from Gazan health officials and raised questions about how much control Israeli forces have over northern Gaza.

The latest raid of Al-Shifa began on Monday in what Israeli officials said was an operation targeting senior Hamas officials who had regrouped there, setting off a battle that both sides said had resulted in casualties.

On Tuesday, Israel’s military said its troops were “continuing precise operations” in the sprawling complex of the hospital, which is Gaza’s largest. It said it had killed dozens of militants, though its account of the fighting could not be independently verified.

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The Al Jazeera news network said that one of its journalists had been detained for 12 hours. It said the journalist, Ismail al-Ghoul, had been severely beaten . Israel’s military has not responded to the allegations, which drew outrage from the Committee to Protect Journalists.

The Gazan Health Ministry condemned the raid as a “crime against health institutions,” and humanitarian organizations expressed alarm over the situation at the complex. The hospital, along with the surrounding area, had been sheltering 30,000 patients, medical workers and displaced civilians.

“Hospitals should never be battlegrounds,” the director general of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said in a post on social media warning that the situation was “endangering health workers, patients and civilians.

Doctors Without Borders said it was “extremely concerned” for the safety of patients and medical staff in the hospital compound. In a statement on Monday, the organization urged “all warring parties to respect the grounds and perimeter of the hospital and ensure the safety of medical personnel, patients and civilians.”

Israel has said that the hospital complex doubled as a secret Hamas military command center, calling it one of many examples of civilian facilities that Hamas uses to shield its activities.

Four months ago, Israeli forces stormed the complex and found a tunnel shaft that they said supported their contention that the armed group had used it to conceal military operations.

Since then, Israel has withdrawn many troops from northern Gaza and has shifted the focus of its invasion to the south. As a result, lawlessness has increasingly taken hold in the north, prompting international aid organizations to suspend operations despite a dire humanitarian crisis.

The Biden administration has grown increasingly critical of Israel’s conduct of the war and its toll on civilians. On Monday, President Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said that “more innocent civilians have died in this conflict, in this military operation, than in all the wars in Gaza combined, including thousands of children.”

“A humanitarian crisis has descended across Gaza, and anarchy reigns in areas that Israel’s military has cleared but not stabilized,” he said.

Gabby Sobelman and Rawan Sheikh Ahmad contributed reporting.

The U.N. human rights chief says Israel may be using starvation as a war weapon.

The United Nations human rights chief, Volker Türk, blamed Israel on Tuesday for what he said was the entirely preventable catastrophe of starvation and famine unfolding in Gaza, urging international pressure on the country to allow for the unimpeded entry of humanitarian aid.

International alarm has been growing over the hunger crisis in Gaza, with food experts predicting an imminent famine in the north of the enclave and foreign leaders and diplomats becoming increasingly blunt in pointing the finger at Israel.

“The situation of hunger, starvation and famine is a result of Israel’s extensive restrictions on the entry and distribution of humanitarian aid and commercial goods, displacement of most of the population, as well as the destruction of crucial civilian infrastructure,” Mr. Türk said in a statement.

Mr. Türk said Israel’s restrictions on aid, together with its conduct in its campaign to destroy Hamas, including the displacement of people and the destruction of infrastructure, may amount to the use of starvation as a weapon of war, which is a war crime.

Israel has pushed back on criticism that it is restricting aid from entering Gaza, pointing to its support for several recent initiatives , including efforts to provide supplies by air and sea that aid groups say are far less efficient than road.

It has accused Hamas of diverting aid and of using Palestinian civilians as human shields. The country’s mission in Geneva said on Tuesday that Mr. Türk “seeks once again to blame Israel for the situation and completely absolve the responsibility of the U.N. and Hamas.”

A report released Monday by the U.N.-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification said that 1.1 million people, half the population of Gaza, would most likely face catastrophic food insecurity and predicted an imminent rise in hunger-related deaths.

“The coping mechanisms we have seen the past weeks, even months, are people eating bird seeds, animal fodder, wild grass and weeds,” Jens Laerke, a spokesman for the U.N. aid agency in Geneva, told reporters on Tuesday while discussing the report. “We are beyond that. There’s literally nothing left.”

The World Health Organization said on Tuesday that it had set up a center to try to stabilize malnutrition levels in the south of Gaza and was looking to set up another in the north, but it said that to bring in supplies at the scale needed would require a cease-fire. Talks in Qatar are continuing amid another intensive diplomatic push to secure a pause in the fighting.

— Nick Cumming-Bruce reporting from Geneva

Israel’s spy chief returns home as cease-fire talks continue in Qatar.

The head of Israel’s delegation has returned home from cease-fire talks in Qatar, an Israeli official said on Tuesday, but talks there are continuing amid another intensive diplomatic push to secure a pause in the fighting in Gaza as famine looms.

Warnings from the United Nations that a “famine is imminent” have added urgency to efforts to broker a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, and get more humanitarian aid into Gaza. In addition to the discussions in Qatar, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will visit Saudi Arabia and Egypt this week to discuss postwar plans for Gaza and the wider Middle East.

Israeli negotiators arrived in Qatar’s capital, Doha, on Monday for a new round of in-person talks about a potential cease-fire and the release of hostages held by Hamas and other armed groups. Their delegation was led by David Barnea, the head of Mossad, Israel’s foreign spy agency.

Mr. Barnea returned to Israel on Tuesday morning, according to an Israeli official who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press. Further details were not immediately available, but the Israeli news media reported that other members of Israel’s negotiating team remained in Qatar.

Officials from Qatar and Egypt have acted as intermediaries in the cease-fire discussions, in part because negotiators for Israel and Hamas do not talk directly with each other.

A spokesman for Qatar’s foreign ministry, Majed al-Ansari, confirmed that Mr. Barnea had departed but said on Tuesday that “technical teams” seeking to hash out finer details of a potential agreement were continuing to meet in Doha.

He said that while there had not yet been a breakthrough in talks, Qatar remained “cautiously optimistic.”

Two senior Israeli officials said the government had initially given its negotiating team an amorphous mandate for the latest round of talks. The team had now been authorized to go deeper into details during the talks, they said, but wasn’t given the full latitude it had requested. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to communicate with the news media.

The Israeli officials said on Monday that a proposal being discussed included a 42-day pause in the fighting in exchange for the release of 40 of the more than 100 hostages taken from Israel and still held in Gaza by Hamas or its allies. But they emphasized that they expected it would take a long time to reach an agreement.

Last week, Hamas presented a new proposal that omitted a previous demand that Israel immediately agree to a permanent cease-fire in return for beginning an exchange of hostages and Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, according to people familiar with the negotiations.

The Israeli officials said Hamas’s new proposal included details that were unacceptable to Israel.

For months, Hamas leaders have been publicly calling for a comprehensive cease-fire and complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Israeli officials repeatedly rejected the demands and indicated that they would be open to only a temporary pause.

Cassandra Vinograd contributed reporting.

— Aaron Boxerman

The top U.S. diplomat will make his sixth wartime trip to the Middle East.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will visit Saudi Arabia and Egypt this week, a trip that comes as the Biden administration tries to broker a hostage deal that would pause Israel’s offensive in Gaza and allow more humanitarian aid into the Palestinian territory.

Speaking to reporters during a stop in Manila on Tuesday, Mr. Blinken said his discussions would include postwar plans for Gaza and the wider Middle East, including a potential agreement that would normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel and lay the groundwork for the eventual creation of a Palestinian state.

Mr. Blinken will be traveling to the region as mediators from Egypt and Qatar hold meetings in Qatar about a possible cease-fire. Israel sent a team of negotiators to Qatar on Monday.

The trip will be Mr. Blinken’s sixth to the region since the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which set off the war in Gaza. In the announcement of his travel, the State Department said that he would meet with the Saudi and Egyptian “leadership,” without naming specific officials. There was no mention of a visit to Israel.

Mr. Blinken said that during stops in Jeddah, in Saudi Arabia, and Cairo, the Egyptian capital, he would be discussing “the imperative of having a plan for Gaza, for when the conflict ends,” and that the hope was such a conclusion would come “as soon as possible, consistent with Israel’s needs to defend itself and make sure that Oct. 7 can never happen again.”

Any postwar plan for Gaza will involve the question of how to provide governance and security in Gaza, a subject on which the United States and Israel disagree .

Mr. Blinken also said he would address “what is the right architecture for lasting regional peace,” an apparent reference to diplomacy between the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia to broker a joint agreement.

Such a pact would likely require Israel to make concessions to the Palestinians in return for its first-ever formal diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia. In turn, the Saudis want the United States and Israel to support the creation of a civil nuclear program on Saudi soil , as well as greater military support from Washington.

Mr. Blinken stressed the urgency of providing humanitarian relief to Gaza, whose inhabitants, he said, “continue to face a horrific humanitarian situation.” He said that Hamas bore blame for the crisis but that it was also “incumbent on Israel” to protect civilians during its military campaign.

He is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and to Egypt on Thursday.

— Michael Crowley Reporting from Manila

Who was Marwan Issa, the Hamas commander killed by Israel?

Marwan Issa, the deputy commander of Hamas’s military wing in Gaza and a presumed mastermind of the Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel, was confirmed dead on Monday by a senior U.S. official after an Israeli airstrike more than a week ago.

Jake Sullivan, the U.S. national security adviser, told reporters that Mr. Issa, one if the highest-ranking officials in Hamas, had been killed. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said on March 11 that Israeli military warplanes had targeted Mr. Issa and another senior Hamas official in an underground compound in central Gaza.

With his death, Mr. Issa, who had been among Israel’s most wanted men, became the senior-most Hamas leader to be killed in Gaza since the start of the war. Israeli officials have characterized the strike as a breakthrough in their campaign to wipe out the Hamas leadership in Gaza.

But experts cautioned that his death would not have a devastating effect on Hamas’s leadership structure. Israel has killed Hamas’s political and military leaders in the past, only to see them quickly replaced.

Here is a closer look at Mr. Issa and what his death means for Hamas and its leadership.

What was Mr. Issa’s role in Hamas?

Mr. Issa, who was 58 or 59 at the time of his death, had served since 2012 as a deputy to Mohammed Deif, the elusive leader of the Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military wing. Mr. Issa assumed the role after the assassination of another top commander, Ahmed al-Jabari.

Mr. Issa served both on Hamas’s military council and in its Gaza political office, overseen by Yahya Sinwar, the group’s highest-ranking official in the enclave. Mr. Issa was described by Palestinian analysts and former Israeli security officials as an important strategist who played a key role as a liaison between Hamas’s military and political leaders.

Salah al-Din al-Awawdeh, a Palestinian analyst close to Hamas, described Mr. Issa’s position in the group as “part of the front rank of the military wing’s leadership.”

Maj. Gen. Tamir Hayman, the former Israeli military intelligence chief, said Mr. Issa was simultaneously Hamas’s “defense minister,” its deputy military commander and its “strategic mind.”

What does his death mean for the group?

Experts described Mr. Issa as an important associate of Mr. Deif and Mr. Sinwar, though they said his death did not represent a threat to the group’s survival.

“There’s always a replacement,” Mr. Awawdeh said. “I don’t think the assassination of any member of the military wing will have an effect on its activities.”

Michael Milshtein, a former Israeli military intelligence officer and an expert on Palestinian affairs, said Mr. Issa’s death was a significant blow to the Qassam Brigades, though he conceded it wasn’t “the end of the world” for Hamas.

“He had a lot of experience,” Mr. Milshtein said. “His death is a big loss for Hamas, but it isn’t a loss that will lead to its collapse and it won’t affect it for a long time. In a week or two, they’ll overcome it.”

Mr. Milshtein added that even though Mr. Issa’s opinion was valued at the highest levels of Hamas, the fact he did not directly command fighters meant his death did not leave a gaping hole in Hamas’s operations.

How has he been described?

Mr. Issa was a lesser-known member of Hamas’s top brass, maintaining a low profile and rarely appearing in public.

Gerhard Conrad, a former German intelligence officer who met Mr. Issa more than a decade ago, described him as a “decisive and quiet” person lacking charisma. “He was not very eloquent, but he knew what to say, and he was straight to the point,” Mr. Conrad said in an interview.

Mr. Conrad said he met Mr. Issa, Mr. al-Jabari and Mahmoud al-Zahar, another senior Hamas official, about ten times between 2009 and 2011 in Gaza City. The men met as part of an effort to broker a prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas.

“He was the master of the data on the prisoners,” Mr. Conrad said of Mr. Issa. “He had all the names to be negotiated on.”

Mr. Conrad, however, said it was apparent at the time that Mr. Issa was a subordinate to Mr. al-Jabari. “He was a kind of chief of staff,” he said.

It was only after Mr. al-Jabari’s assassination that Mr. Issa’s prominence grew, but he still was keen to stay out of view. Few images of Mr. Issa are in the public domain.

Mr. Awawdeh, the analyst, called Mr. Issa a man who liked to “remain in the shadows” and who seldom granted interviews to the media.

In one of those rare interviews , Mr. Issa spoke in 2021 about his role in the indirect talks that resulted in Israel exchanging more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners for a single Israeli soldier, Sgt. First Class Gilad Shalit, and his hopes for a future conflict with Israel.

“Even if the resistance in Palestine is monitored by the enemy at all hours, it will surprise the enemy,” he told Al Jazeera at the time.

In a separate interview with a Hamas publication in 2005, Mr. Issa lauded militants who raided Israeli settlements and military bases, calling the actions “heroic” and an “advanced activity.”

What is known about his early life?

Mr. Issa was born in the Bureij area of central Gaza in 1965, but his family hails from what is now the Ashkelon area in Israel.

A Hamas member for decades, he was involved with the militant group involved pursuing Palestinians who were believed to have collaborated with Israel, according to Mr. Awawdeh.

Mr. Issa spent time in prisons operated by both Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

Admiral Hagari has said that Mr. Issa helped plan the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attack. Mr. Issa is also thought to have planned operations aimed at infiltrating Israeli settlements during the second intifada in the 2000s, Mr. Milshtein said.

An earlier version of this article misstated the surname of a former Israeli military intelligence chief. He is Tamir Hayman, not Heyman.

How we handle corrections

— Adam Rasgon reporting from Jerusalem

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Spring temperature rebound begins across South as winter tightens grip across Great Lakes, Northeast

While the south gets set to welcome the warmer weather, cold air remains in place across the great lakes region and northeast, which has allowed for lake-effect and lake-enhanced snow to break out across the region..

Portions of the interior Northeast and Great Lakes are again dealing with lake-effect and lake-enhanced snow on Tuesday as temperatures rebound in the South were millions had been under Freeze Warnings earlier in the day.

Great Lakes, Northeast continue to deal with snow as temperatures rebound in the South

Portions of the interior Northeast and Great Lakes are again dealing with lake-effect and lake-enhanced snow on Tuesday as temperatures rebound in the South were millions had been under Freeze Warnings earlier in the day.

Freeze Warnings that had been in effect for nearly 25 million people in 11 states across the South and Southeast Tuesday morning have been allowed to expire, setting the stage for a much-needed temperature warmup there as spring finally begins .

But while the South gets set to welcome the warmer weather, cold air remains in place across the Great Lakes region and Northeast , which has allowed for lake-effect and lake-enhanced snow to break out across the region.

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Lake-effect snow, snow squalls continue in Northeast

Cold temperatures have been settled across the northern tier all week, and Tuesday will be another day in which forecast high temperatures aren’t expected to get out of the 30s from cities like Marquette in Michigan to Burlington in Vermont .

And if that wasn’t enough, the region faces another day in which lake-effect snow and dangerous snow squalls could develop and lead to some potentially dangerous travel from the Great Lakes to the Northeast.

DON'T LEAVE ANY OF THESE ITEMS IN YOUR CAR THIS WINTER

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The National Weather Service said cold air flowing over the relatively warm waters of the Great Lakes will be the culprit for lake-effect snow to break out on Tuesday, and it will be further enhanced as a low-pressure system crosses from Canada to Maine over the next few days.

While most of the region won’t see too much snow accumulation, the greatest chance of seeing 6 inches or more of additional snow is across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and northern and western areas of New York , including Tug Hill Plateau, as well as the higher elevations across New England in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

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