UPDATE - US raises travel advisory for Saudi Arabia

​​​​​​​ADDS TRAVEL WARNING FOR CYPRUS

​​​​​​​By Rabia Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US State Department raised its travel advisory Wednesday for Saudi Arabia to Level 3 - Reconsider Travel, citing heightened security risks from US and Israeli attacks against Iran.

The agency said it authorized the departure of non-emergency US government personnel and their family members from Saudi Arabia because of safety concerns.

“Reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia due to risk of armed conflict, terrorism, exit bans, and local laws regarding social media activity,” it said in an advisory.

The agency also said the Yemen’s Houthi group previously launched missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi cities, airports, military bases and energy infrastructure, raising concerns about renewed strikes.

Americans were specifically urged not to travel to areas near the Yemeni border, which remain under a Level 4 - Do Not Travel warning due to terrorism threats.

US personnel are also restricted from traveling within 20 miles (32 kilometers) of the Yemen border and from visiting the eastern city of Qatif for non-official purposes because of security risks.

The State Department also raised its travel advisory for Cyprus from Level 1 to Level 3, authorizing the departure of non-emergency personnel because of regional security concerns.

An advisory cited flight disruptions since the start of US-Iran hostilities, and a March 2 drone strike on a building at the British Sovereign Base Area in Cyprus.

The US and Israel launched a large-scale attack Saturday on Iran, killing several top Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Tehran has responded with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel and US-linked sites in Gulf countries.