Global security expert offers travel guidance amid Mideast crisis

The killing of senior leaders from Hamas and Hezbollah recently has further unsettled an already fragile situation in the Middle East, raising fears of a wider regional war.

The two assassinations took place in Iran and Lebanon, with Israel widely blamed for both. Ismail Haniyeh, a senior Hamas figure, was killed during a state visit to Iran for the inauguration of the country’s new president. Meanwhile, senior Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukur was killed in Beirut.

In response, the US State Department has issued travel advisories for those planning to visit the region.

As of 31 July, Lebanon is under a Level 4 advisory, meaning travellers should not visit. The warning cites rising tensions between Hezbollah and Israel. Northern Israel is also subject to a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory, with travellers urged to avoid areas within 2.5 miles of the Lebanese and Syrian borders for the same reason.

For the rest of Israel, the advisory is Level 3, meaning travellers should reconsider their plans due to ongoing conflict and the risk of terrorism.

Airlines have begun to respond. United Airlines and Delta Air Lines have both suspended flights to Tel Aviv. Delta said services between New York JFK and Tel Aviv would be paused until at least 2 August due to the conflict, adding that it would continue to monitor developments. United has also halted its daily service, saying safety remains its priority.

The occupied territory of East Jerusalem (the old part of the city) in Palestine. Photo: Horvath Botond/Adobe

Security experts are urging caution. Seth Krummrich, vice-president at Global Guardian and a retired US Army colonel with two decades of experience in the Middle East, advises avoiding travel unless it is essential.

He said travellers should consider whether their trip is critical. If it is, steps should be taken to reduce risk. If not, postponing travel is the safest option. He added that the coming days and weeks are particularly uncertain, as Iran is likely to respond to the killing of Haniyeh, who was in the country under official protection.

Krummrich believes Iran has little choice but to act, given the scale and location of the attack, which exposed a major security lapse.

He also stressed that risk varies across the region. While northern Israel remains highly volatile, travel to cities such as Tel Aviv has continued, with some travellers moving in and out without incident since October.

However, he advised anyone considering travel to carefully assess their plans. Key questions include whether the trip is necessary and how they would leave the country in an emergency.

Krummrich strongly recommends having a reliable partner in place, such as a security provider or trusted organisation, capable of tracking movements and arranging evacuation if needed. Travellers should be clear about who would assist them if commercial flights were suspended.

He cited recent cases where individuals were evacuated by road to Jordan and flown out from Amman, highlighting the need for contingency planning.

Overall, travellers are urged to be well informed, prepared and realistic about the risks.

Looking ahead, the outlook for the region remains uncertain. Krummrich said the conflict between Israel and Gaza is likely to continue for some time, and instability may persist in parts of the Middle East for years.

He expressed particular concern about Gaza, noting the absence of a clear long-term plan. Questions remain over who will govern the territory after the war and how basic services will be restored.

Rebuilding Gaza will be a vast and complex task, from reopening schools and hospitals to restoring essential services. Without a clear framework, he warned, the most difficult challenges may still lie ahead.