Americans advised to reconsider participation in Hajj pilgrimage

The U.S. State Department is advising Americans to reconsider participating in Hajj this year due to risks in Saudi Arabia associated with the Iran war.

"Per the Saudi Arabia Travel Advisory, and due to the ongoing security situation and intermittent travel disruptions, we advise reconsidering participation in Hajj this year," the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh said in a security alert Tuesday.

Hajj, an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, is taking place this year at the end of May.

U.S. citizens are being encouraged to reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia.  

For those looking to depart the country, "Commercial flights are available and Saudi airspace remains open with frequent air traffic restrictions to address continued missile and drone threats," the security alert said. "Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam airports remain open and operational, but travelers are advised to check their flight status directly with the airline due to possible delays and cancellations."

The embassy said U.S. citizens who are still in Saudi Arabia should "heed the advice of the Government of Saudi Arabia early warning system," although it noted that the system "is not consistently reliable in providing timely warnings."

The State Department also said it is tracking reports of threats against locations where Americans gather. 

"We advise U.S. citizens that hotels and other gathering points including U.S. businesses may be potential targets," it said.