US issues new travel warning over crime, unrest and UXO

The United States has issued a newly updated travel warning highlighting heightened risks from crime, civil unrest and unexploded ordnance in several destinations, underscoring the need for Americans to scrutinize routes, insurance and on-the-ground safety plans before traveling.

New advisory highlights crime, unrest and explosive remnants of war

Publicly available information on Travel.State.gov shows that recent State Department advisories have drawn renewed attention to three overlapping risks in certain countries: street and organized crime, politically linked unrest, and the lingering presence of landmines and unexploded ordnance. The latest updates stress that these factors can affect both major cities and remote border regions, and that conditions may change with little notice.

In mid-September 2026, the Cambodia country page was reissued with a Level 2 “Exercise Increased Caution” designation, explicitly flagging crime, unrest and unexploded ordnance as key risk indicators. The advisory urges travelers to be particularly cautious in Phnom Penh due to theft and robbery, and to avoid areas along the Cambodia–Thailand border where security tensions and explosive remnants of past conflicts are a concern.

Similar language appears in guidance for Bosnia and Herzegovina, which carries a Level 2 advisory dated August 27, 2026. The Bosnia notice cites crime, terrorism and politically related unrest, while also warning that landmines and unexploded ordnance remain present across parts of the country, including in rural and mountainous areas that attract hikers and road-trippers.

Separate country-specific pages, including those for Libya and Burma, also reference unexploded landmines or ordnance alongside threats such as crime, armed conflict and civil unrest. These advisories outline environments where weapons are widespread, non-state armed actors operate and the capacity for emergency assistance may be limited.

How the US travel advisory system flags these risks

According to publicly available State Department material describing the advisory framework, each country is assigned a level from 1 to 4, ranging from “Exercise Normal Precautions” to “Do Not Travel.” Under that system, risk indicators such as crime, unrest, terrorism, kidnapping, health and landmines or unexploded ordnance can be attached to a destination to explain why a particular level is in place.

Level 2 advisories, such as those currently applied to Cambodia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, generally indicate that travelers should exercise increased caution and pay close attention to location-specific guidance. In practice, that can mean avoiding certain neighborhoods after dark, steering clear of protests and political gatherings, or not entering particular provinces, border zones or rural regions where security incidents or explosive remnants have been reported.

Higher-level advisories, including Level 3 “Reconsider Travel” and Level 4 “Do Not Travel,” are used where risks from crime, unrest, conflict or landmines are considered more acute and where the ability of consular staff to assist in an emergency may be constrained. Libya and Burma currently fall into this more restrictive category, reflecting a mix of armed conflict, civil disorder, kidnapping risk and explosive hazards in parts of those countries.

The advisory system is presented as guidance rather than a binding ban on travel, but the latest notices emphasize that individuals who decide to proceed should understand the specific risks and plan accordingly, especially when traveling outside major urban centers or close to contested borders.

Specific concerns: from city crime to remote minefields

Recent coverage of the Cambodia update notes that the advisory highlights elevated street-crime risks in Phnom Penh, including robberies and bag-snatching that can target visitors in nightlife districts or around popular landmarks. Reports also point to scams in tourist zones and caution against accepting drinks from strangers or leaving food and beverages unattended.

Beyond city crime, the warning for Cambodia stresses that unrest and the presence of unexploded ordnance are concentrated in certain provinces and along the frontier with Thailand. Other governments’ travel advice referenced in news reports similarly urges travelers to avoid traveling within dozens of kilometers of that border region, citing security incidents and uncertainty around troop deployments on both sides.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, publicly available guidance notes that most urban areas visited by tourists are not heavily impacted by landmines, but that unexploded ordnance remains scattered in rural and forested terrain, as well as in some former front-line regions. Travelers who venture off paved roads, go hiking, or explore abandoned buildings are urged to stay on clearly marked paths and avoid ignored or unofficial trails where clearance work may not have taken place.

Country information for Libya and Burma depicts even more challenging conditions, with references to armed clashes, improvised explosive devices, extensive minefields and unexploded shells or munitions in some districts. These descriptions underline that explosive remnants of war are not only a historical legacy but an ongoing safety issue in several parts of the world.

Practical implications for US travelers planning trips

The updated warnings have practical implications for Americans assessing future trips. Published guidance consistently encourages travelers to review the latest country advisories before booking, to reconsider itineraries that pass through contested border regions, and to avoid travel on unpaved back roads or through areas where landmines and unexploded ordnance have been reported.

Recent media reports discussing the Cambodia advisory also highlight recommendations around robbery and personal security, including keeping valuables secured, avoiding the display of expensive jewelry or electronics in public, and complying with demands if confronted by armed assailants. The same coverage notes official suggestions to purchase travel insurance that includes medical evacuation, emergency assistance and trip cancellation protection.

For trips to destinations with known explosive hazards, global safety organizations and country pages advise checking whether local tour providers follow marked, cleared routes and whether activities such as trekking, cycling or driving off-road are routed away from suspected minefields. Maps and signage may not be consistent between regions, and in some areas hazardous zones can remain unmarked.

Across all the destinations mentioned in the latest advisories, publicly accessible guidance stresses that travelers should monitor local news while abroad, register for alert services if available, and remain prepared to adjust plans if conditions deteriorate, protests escalate or new information emerges about crime patterns or unexploded ordnance in areas they plan to visit.