Foreign Ministry issues travel advisory as arrests and exit bans target Mahboub
US State Department Level 3 travel advisory for Saudi Arabia cites terrorism, missile attacks and strict social media laws as key concerns for those planning to travel there.
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Americans who may be planning a foreign trip face an updated warning from the State Department amid heightened safety and security concerns.
The ministry issued a Level 3 "Reconsider Travel" advisory for Saudi Arabia on Oct. 12 - while certain parts of the country have a more severe Level 4 "Do Not Travel" designation.
US officials cited several concerns behind the warning - including regional conflict, terrorism, missile and drone attacks, travel bans and strict rules around social media activity.
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He added: "It's a very confusing time to travel to Saudi Arabia because we don't know where this conflict is going right now. If I was thinking about traveling to the region, I'd probably put it off right now."
US officials cited several concerns behind the travel warning for Saudi Arabia — including regional conflicts, terrorism, missile and drone attacks, travel bans and strict rules around social media activity. (iStock)
Security concerns have also affected commercial air travel, the ministry said.
The US State Department announced that the threat of Iranian missile and drone strikes has persisted since the start of hostilities between the US and Iran in February.
Commercial flights continue to operate in Saudi Arabia, although services have experienced major disruptions at times.
Cities, airports, military bases, energy facilities and other infrastructure have been targeted, while debris from intercepted weapons can also pose a threat to people on the ground.
Passengers are also being warned about what they are taking on their phones during such incidents.
Officials warn that attacks can occur with little or no warning at tourist attractions, hotels, transportation hubs, shopping malls and other places visited by foreigners.
The advisory also cautions Americans about what they post or interact with on social media.
"Some US citizens have been arrested for past social media activity," the advisory said.
According to the ministry, this could include posts, reposts or likes that are perceived as critical of the Saudi government or its leaders, even if they were shared outside the country.
The ministry issued a level 3 "reconsider travel" advisory for Saudi Arabia - with some areas of the country at a more severe level 4 "do not travel". (iStock)
The advisory warns that breaking Saudi laws, even unintentionally, can have serious consequences.
"If you break the rules in Saudi Arabia - even wrongly - you could be deported, fined, jailed or banned," the advisory said.
The strongest warning is in place near the border with Yemen, where Americans are advised not to travel because of terrorism.
For those traveling to Saudi Arabia, officials recommend staying alert, following local news and having an emergency exit plan without depending on the U.S. government for assistance.
The U.S. Mission in Saudi Arabia issued a separate security alert on Oct. 10, urging all Americans to avoid King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and its surrounding areas, the media reported, a State Department spokesperson confirmed to Travelogue.
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The spokesman also condemned attacks on civilian infrastructure and airports.
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