US advises citizens in Middle East, North Africa to be more cautious amid rising tensions

The United States is advising its citizens in the Middle East and North Africa region to exercise increased caution due to heightened regional tensions, the US State Department said on Thursday.

Sending out a security alert, the State Department wrote on social media: "Due to increased regional tensions, the Department of State advises U.S. citizens in the Middle East and North Africa region to exercise increased caution.

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"Historically, similar tensions have resulted in travel disruptions and increased security concerns for U.S. citizens in the region. U.S. citizens should enrol in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at http://step.state.gov to receive information and alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency overseas."

The US embassy in Jerusalem announced on Thursday it was restricting staff movements after President Donald Trump said US personnel were being moved from the potentially "dangerous" Middle East.

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"Due to the increased regional tensions, U.S. government employees and their family members are restricted from travel outside the greater Tel Aviv (area)... Jerusalem, and Be'er Sheva areas until further notice," the embassy said in a statement.

Traveling between those locations, to Tel Aviv's airport or down the highway through the occupied West Bank to the Jordanian border, would be permitted, the embassy said.

The security alert came after Trump said on Wednesday that US personnel were being moved from the potentially "dangerous" Middle East as nuclear talks with Iran faltered and fears grew of a regional conflict.

Iran earlier threatened to target US military bases in the region if conflict breaks out, amid mounting speculation that Israel could strike Tehran's facilities.

A US official had said earlier that staff levels at the embassy in Iraq were being reduced over security concerns, while there were reports that personnel were also being moved from Kuwait and Bahrain.