The US state department on Thursday issued a worldwide security alert for Americans overseas amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, citing increased tensions in various locations around the world and the potential for extremist attacks and violence against Americans.
The alert did not single out any specific global event but comes amid a conflict in West Asia after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 and Israel subsequently pounded Hamas-ruled Gaza with air strikes that left thousands of people dead.
Demonstrations erupted in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian West Bank, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia, and elsewhere amid outrage across West Asia over an explosion on Tuesday at a hospital in Gaza. Palestinian officials blamed an Israeli air strike, but Israel denied it. The US has said it has data showing Israel was not responsible for the deadly strike.
Lebanese security forces fired tear gas and water cannon at protesters throwing projectiles near the US embassy in Beirut on Thursday, TV footage showed.
In Washington, US attorney general Merrick Garland said on Thursday that the justice department is monitoring an increase in reported threats against Jewish, Muslim and Arab communities in the US.
UN resolution
The UN Security Council displayed deep divisions on Wednesday when it failed to pass a resolution on the Israel-Hamas war. The US veto generated criticism of American double standards.
