US State Department Issues ‘Worldwide Travel Alert’ Over ISIS Terrorist Threat

The U.S. State Department issued a warning—a “worldwide travel alert”—for Americans due “to possible risks of travel due to increased terrorist threats.”

French gendarmes officers patrol near the Eiffel Tower, in Paris, Monday Nov. 23, 2015. French President Francois Hollande will preside over a national ceremony on Nov. 27 honoring the at least 130 victims of the deadliest attacks on France in decades. AP Photo/Jacques Brinon

The U.S. State Department issued a warning—a “worldwide travel alert”—for Americans due “to possible risks of travel due to increased terrorist threats.”

In a statement on Nov. 23, the agency says that “current information suggests that ISIL (aka Daesh), al-Qaida, Boko Haram, and other terrorist groups continue to plan terrorist attacks in multiple regions.” ISIL is another term for ISIS, or the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, and al-Qaida can be spelled as al-Qaeda.

“These attacks may employ a wide variety of tactics, using conventional and non-conventional weapons and targeting both official and private interests. This Travel Alert expires on February 24, 2016,” the State Department said.

U.S. officials believe there’s an increased likelihood of attacks as members of ISIS return from Syria and Iraq.

Soldiers stand guard in front of the central train station on Nov. 22, 2015, in Brussels, as the Belgian capital remained on the highest security alert level over fears of a Paris-style attack. Emmanuel Dunand/AFP Photo