Counter-Terrorism Bureau advises against travel to Turkey
Terror-monitoring agency publishes report detailing travel warnings; threat levels remain elevated in Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, extremely elevated in Sinai and Mandanao island of Philippines.
"Motivation of world jihadi organizations—including ISIS and other operatives inspired by them—remains high at this time to carry out terrorist attacks around the world," said the Bureau. It noted terrorist attacks may be carried out in western countries, emphasizing northern and western Europe.
The fear of attacks stems from the "war of survival waged by the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq against a coalition of western countries led by the United States," the anti-terrorism organization said.
Similarly to its previous warnings, the Counter-Terrorism Bureau once again advises against Israelis traveling to Turkey, while those who are already there are advised to leave as soon as possible.
"The terror threat against western tourist destinations in general and Israeli destinations in particular persists all over Turkey," the document circulated by the Bureau said. "In spite of Turkey's effort's to foil and prevent attempted attacks by ISIS and other organizations, threat levels in the country remain high."
The Bureau's document—which contained no new warnings—also announced travel warnings on Egypt and Jordan.
In the Sinai Peninsula and Egypt itself the severe threat of terrorist attacks against tourists, including Israelis, remained. The last significant attack against a touristic Sinai destination took place this past April during Passover at Saint Catherine's Monastery, for which the "Sinai district" of ISIS claimed responsibility.
The Counter-Terrorism Bureau's Sinai travel warning is ranked level 1, the highest possible level symbolizing an extremely elevated and concrete threat level, and Israelis are therefore advised to not travel in the peninsula under any circumstances and leave immediately if they're already there. The travel warning for Egypt remained at a basic concrete threat level—or level 3—and Israelis are advised to avoid visiting the neighboring country.
As it pertains to Jordan, the Bureau stated that apart from the basic threat levels due to terrorists operating in the country, there's also hostility towards Israel among the Jordanian public, partly due to the Israeli security guard shooting two citizens of the Hashemite Kingdom dead, which caused a diplomatic crisis between the countries and Israel's diplomatic mission to Jordan to leave.
As to the southern Philippines, threat levels are extremely elevated at the Mindanao island and the Sulu archipelago. In the past few months, these environs saw prolonged violent clashes, orchestrated by ISIS-affiliated operatives in the region. ISIS fighters even took control of certain parts of Marawi City in Mindanao.
The Bureau stressed the need for alertness and caution while traveling in crowded civilian centers marked as targets for terrorist attacks, such as tourism hotspots (especially during the holidays), sport stadiums, cultural venues such as museums, shopping and recreation centers, hotels, airports and public transportation hubs, houses of worship (synagogues, churches and mosques) and multi-person events.
Attacks carried out by ISIS and its supporters over the past year mostly utilized stabbing, running over, light-arms fire, operating explosive charges and suicide attacks. attacks were carried out by groups of several activists or "lone wolves."
"In light of this fact, we ask to the public to remain alert to any suspicious person or behavior around them and taking the appropriate precautions," the bureau said. "Having said that, western and other countries have done much to combat the threat of Salafi terrorism, and their efforts have borne fruit in a multitude of terrorism-related infrastructures being uncovered, and a host of attacks foiled recently."
