U.S. Warning: Do Not Travel to Syria During the Holiday
March 29, 2025, 12:16 pm

U.S. Warning: Do Not Travel to Syria During the Holiday

تحذير أمريكي.. لا تسافروا إلى سوريا خلال العيد

The U.S. Department of State has warned its citizens of the potential increase in attacks during the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which may target embassies, international organizations, and public institutions in Damascus, Syria.

The State Department issued a travel advisory for Syria, labeled as Level 4: "Do Not Travel to Syria," indicating that these risks could include methods of attack such as individual assaults, armed attacks, or the use of explosives.

The statement confirmed: "The U.S. Department of State's classification for travel to Syria remains at Level 4: Do Not Travel. This advisory is still in effect due to the significant risks related to terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, hostage-taking, armed conflict, and arbitrary detention."

The statement also noted that the U.S. embassy in Damascus has been closed since 2012, adding, "The U.S. government is unable to provide any routine or emergency consular services to American citizens in Syria. The Czech Republic represents the protecting power for U.S. interests in Syria."

American citizens in Syria who need emergency assistance are advised to contact the American Interests Section at the Embassy of the Czech Republic.

The embassy statement included a series of recommendations for American citizens in Syria, including: leaving Syria immediately, avoiding large gatherings or demonstrations, and remaining vigilant in tourist areas or places frequented by Westerners. They also advised being prepared to remain in place if the situation deteriorates, reviewing personal security plans, keeping phones charged for emergencies, exercising caution, and following the latest news updates that may affect internal security, taking updated information into account when planning trips and activities. Additionally, they should establish an emergency plan and review the State Department’s travel checklist, as well as register themselves and encourage other Americans in Syria to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) for alerts.

The warning emphasizes that the risks associated with terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, hostage-taking, armed conflict, and unjust detention remain significant.

In a related context, the Syrian presidency announced on Friday that President Ahmed al-Shara met with a delegation from the Shiite community in the country, marking the first meeting of its kind.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”