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See the full story · 1 sourcesIran is one of the countries on the US State Department's "Do Not Travel" list. ATTA KENARE / AFP via Getty Images
The US Department of State issued a worldwide travel warning for American citizens.
Twenty-three countries are on the US State Department's "Do Not Travel" list due to risks.
The State Department warns of threats like terrorism and kidnapping in some of these countries.
The US State Department gave American citizens traveling abroad a serious warning this week.
As the Iran War continues in the Middle East , the department issued a warning to Americans worldwide, recommending increased caution amid a "complex security environment" that might result in "unforeseen escalation."
"Americans currently in the Middle East should exercise caution and heightened vigilance and should be prepared for flight cancellations , periodic airspace closures, and potential travel disruptions ," the department wrote.
It also noted that US diplomatic facilities outside the Middle East have been targeted, and that Americans throughout the world might be at risk of being targeted by groups associated with or supportive of Iran.
The war has pushed up oil prices and heightened security concerns , while some airlines have canceled, postponed, or rescheduled routes.
The US State Department ranks 23 countries around the world at travel advisory level four, or "do not travel," due to risks such as terrorism and kidnapping.
The advisory lists in countries like the US and the UK often overlap, although they're not identical.
Historical and cultural ties, proximity, and level of familiarity may all play a role in shaping these lists, Alan Fyall, a professor of tourism at the University of Central Florida, told Business Insider.
"All countries will rank destinations slightly differently," Fyall said
For some of the "do-not-travel" countries, the US has suspended embassy operations , making it difficult for the US to assist travelers when they're in trouble, which is part of the reason the warnings can be stringent, Fyall said.
"Do you really want to go and rescue your citizens from a country that, really, they're not that advised to go to in the first place?" he said.
The US and UK governments also issue warnings for specific areas in some countries, such as near the Thailand-Malaysia border, the Western Desert in Egypt, or parts of Israel.
While some risk-takers travel to these countries for a thrill, others go to visit family or for business reasons.
"Some people think the perceived risk is overstated," Edward Dramberger, a University of South Carolina tourism and hospitality professor, told Business Insider.
For those who travel to level-four countries, the US State Department often offers routine advice, including staying aware of your surroundings, keeping your travel documents on hand, drafting a will before travel, creating a plan to leave the country without the aid of the US government, and monitoring local news for emergency situations.
Nations and regions can change travel advisory levels on the US' list based on changing circumstances, but these are the 23 countries the State Department considers "do-not-travel" zones as of July 24, 2026.
Afghanistan
Iviaggidimanuel/Shutterstock
Sitting between Iran and Pakistan, mountainous Afghanistan has rugged terrain and an arid climate.
"People perceive Afghanistan as just a desolate, mountain desert country with no attributes, no culture, which is wrong," Dramberger said.
Decades of coups, civil wars, and invasions have made the country difficult for travelers to get to know, except via the news.
The US State Department lists crime, civil unrest, terrorism, wrongful detention, health, natural disasters, and kidnapping among the safety concerns when traveling to Afghanistan. Medical care may be more difficult to obtain in rural areas.
In late February, the agency posted a security alert noting the threats of the Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict and urging citizens not to travel to the country.
The country is also prone to earthquakes, like one that struck the country in September 2025 and resulted in over a thousand deaths.
In 2021, the US Embassy in Kabul closed its operations in the country.
The agency recommends that American visitors keep a low profile while in the country.
Belarus
Tatyana.s/Shutterstock
Once part of the Soviet Union, Belarus maintains close ties with its neighbor, Russia. From Gothic architecture to rare near-endangered species, Belarus has attractions for castle seekers and nature enthusiasts.
In recent years, Belarus has allowed Russia to use some of its territory to invade Ukraine.
The risk of civil unrest makes visits to Belarus unwise, according to the State Department. The US Embassy suspended operations there in 2022.
Americans traveling to Belarus should exercise the usual precautions for visiting high-risk countries and consider leaving their phones, computers, and other electronic devices behind. The State Department also recommends not accessing social media accounts while in Belarus because they may be monitored.
Burkina Faso
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Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, is a West African hub of culture and arts, and the country also has an incredible wildlife refuge, Réserve de Nazinga, near its border with Ghana.
Despite the country's positive attributes, the US State Department advises travelers to avoid visiting.
The country's government has declared a state of emergency for several regions.
Terrorism, crime, and other threats have displaced over 2 million residents, as reported by the United Nations . While the displacement crisis has been slowly decreasing, the country still finds itself engulfed in a deep humanitarian crisis.
Since 2015, several citizens of countries like the US have been kidnapped in Burkina Faso, according to the US Overseas Security Advisory Council , which classifies the situation in the country as "critical."
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