US Updates Travel Warning for Libya, Cites Teacher Killed in Benghazi
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iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — The State Department has updated its warning that U.S. citizens should not travel to Libya, except for essential travel to Tripoli.
American teacher Ronnie Smith was killed in Benghazi on Dec. 5, and the new warning includes a reference to his death:
Because of the presumption that foreigners, especially U.S. citizens, in Libya may be associated with the U.S. government or U.S. NGOs, travelers should be aware that they may be targeted by extremist groups seeking to injure or kill U.S. citizens, and should act accordingly with extreme caution. In addition, on Dec. 5, 2013, a U.S. citizen teacher resident in Benghazi was killed in a drive-by shooting near his home.
Before Smith’s death, the State Dept. had maintained the same guidance: that Tripoli is unsafe, and that Americans should not travel at all to areas outside of it.
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