Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japan has raised the “danger level” for Syria to four, the highest point on a scale that advises travelers of risks overseas, Japan’s Foreign Ministry has announced.

 Level 4 indicates “Evacuate. Do not travel there” and has been issued for the entire country of Syria. The move follows clashes between rival groups in the country and bombing by the Israeli military.

 The Foreign Ministry advised: “There remains a very high possibility that Japanese travelers and residents will be in danger. Please refrain from traveling to Syria for any purpose. In addition, those already in the country should evacuate immediately.”

 As background to the decision, the Ministry noted the collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024, and the establishment of a “provisional government” led by the Liberation Organization of Syria (HTS).

 While acknowledging the transitional government’s aim was to restore security, Japan’s Foreign Ministry says, “The security situation in the country is still extremely fluid. Various forces are clashing in the coastal areas where supporters of the former regime have their bases.” It says other areas are controlled by the Turkish military and its allies, while the northeastern and eastern areas are controlled by Kurdish forces.

 The Japanese warning also says the “international terrorist organization Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) continues to be active” in parts of the country and violent crimes such as kidnappings for ransom and robberies have occurred. Japanese people have been involved in some violent incidents, it notes.

 “There have been several violent incidents involving Japanese nationals in the past,” the Ministry says, including a Japanese journalist killed in 2012 and the execution of two Japanese nationals by ISIL in 2015.

 The Ministry also advises people not to enter Syria from Iraq through a border checkpoint operated independently by Kurdish forces.

 It concludes: “The situation in Syria remains extremely dangerous. Do not travel there for any reason.”