The U.S. embassy in Jerusalem has revised its guidelines on how close U.S. government employees and their families can go to the borders between Israel and its neighbors Lebanon and Syria.
“Due to the stable security environment in northern Israel, the U.S. Embassy has eased travel restrictions on U.S. government employees and their family members,” the embassy stated on Jan. 2. “U.S. government employees and their family members are restricted from personal travel within 4 kilometers/2.4 miles of the Israel-Lebanon and Israel-Syria borders.”
The revised security alert also noted that any official travel within the area still requires approval from the embassy security office.
The U.S. State Department had previously instructed individuals on Dec. 4, 2024, not to travel within five miles of the Lebanese and Syrian borders “due to Israel’s continued military presence and activity.”