US issues chilling security warning to all Americans
The US has issued a security warning to all Americans travelling abroad in the form of a 'worldwide caution' for their citizens going anywhere outside the country.
This 'worldwide caution' issued to Americans is linked to the US and Israel's ongoing war with Iran.
It's been almost a month since the first strikes on Iran started the war and killed the Middle Eastern country's supreme leader, and since then, there have been intensive missile and drone strikes in the area.
Thousands have been killed as a result of the conflict in the Middle East over the last month, with the Middle East Eye reporting at least 2,500 deaths across Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.
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On Sunday (22 March) the US State Department said in a message to US citizens: "The Department of State advises Americans worldwide, and especially in the Middle East, to exercise increased caution.
"Americans abroad should follow the guidance in security alerts issued by the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Periodic airspace closures may cause travel disruptions.
"U.S. diplomatic facilities, including outside the Middle East, have been targeted. Groups supportive of Iran may target other U.S. interests overseas or locations associated with the United States and/or Americans throughout the world."
The security warning follows orders from the US State Department for all of their embassies to review their security operations, as NBC reported the security warnings went out due to 'the ongoing and developing situation in the Middle East and the potential for spill-over effects'.
On Saturday 14 March, Iran attacked the US embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, with multiple rockets and drones.
Meanwhile, human rights group the HRANA say more than 1,400 civilians have been killed in Iran since the war started.
Will there be a ceasefire with Iran?
US President Donald Trump claimed yesterday that he was working on a potential ceasefire with Iran following his threat to destroy their energy infrastructure and Iran's response that they would target desalination plants which many of the Gulf states rely on for their supply of drinking water.
Oil prices fell slightly following Trump's declaration, but Iranian officials insisted there had been no discussions and called Trump's claim of talks being held on a ceasefire were 'fake news', with oil prices rising again afterwards.
Iranian officials later said they had received 'points' from the US via mediators which they were reviewing, but this did not mean talks were happening or that they were going to happen.
While Trump's claims of having 'very good and productive' negotiations with Iran have been contradicted by the Iranians, their state media Fars News Agency reported claims of a 'special plan' that would remove the chance of talks.
"Tonight, special events are planned for Tel Aviv and some regional allies of the US and Israel that will completely remove the hope of negotiations from the minds of the aggressors," this source claimed.
The agency also reported that Iranian demands for the economically important Strait of Hormuz - the world's largest oil shipping channel - to be reopened would require the US to withdraw from its bases in the region, pay compensation and provide guarantees they would not attack again.
Today, a spokesperson for the Iranian military said they would keep fighting 'until complete victory', and retaliatory strikes from Iran have continued to target Israel and US allies in the Gulf.
The war looks set to continue.
Topics: Iran, Donald Trump, US News, Travel, World News
Joe Harker