A travel warning has been issued by the U.S. State Department against traveling to Lebanon and Turkey due to the possibility of attacks against U.S. citizens, according to USA Today.
The warnings were issued after a State Department order for a drawdown of all non-emergency government personnel and their families in Beirut, Lebanon and Adana, Turkey.
The State Department has issued several travel warnings for travel through different countries throughout the Middle East, countries including Iraq, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.
Included in the warning for Lebanon is that "all travel" should be avoided because the potential for a "spontaneous upsurge in violence remains."
The warning for Turkey specifies that U.S. citizens should specifically avoid the southwestern part of the country. It does not, however, specifically mention Istanbul, which is a popular destination in northwest Turkey.
John Rendeiro, the vice president of global security and intelligence for International SOS, which provides assistance to travelers abroad, according to the State Department. Preparations also seem to have been made for the possibility of a U.S.-led military intervention into Syria.
"This is sort of preparing in the event that there is a military strike and some kind of action in Syria that will lead to retaliation by Syria and its allies," Rendeiro said. "If they are taking measures warning their own employees about the threat, they have to notify the public about that."
The situation in Lebanon, a country that borders Syria, has been portrayed by the State Department as especially dangerous for U.S. citizens.
Lebanese government authorities will be unable to guarantee protection of visitors if violence should break out, according to the State Department warning.
"Access to borders, airports, roads and seaports can be interrupted with little or no warning," reads the warning. "Public demonstrations occur frequently with little warning and have the potential to become violent.
"Family, neighborhood or sectarian disputes often escalate quickly and can lead to gunfire or other violence with little or no warning," continues the warning. "The ability of U.S. government personnel to reach travelers or provide emergency services may be severely limited."
Travelers should also stay away from border regions between Lebanon and Syria due to an increase in incidents that have resulted in deaths, according to the warning.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
