Iran and Israel continue to trade strikes, State Dept. tells U.S. citizens to exercise caution

Geopolitical Risk & Security Concerns - US State Department advises citizens worldwide to exercise increased caution following reported strikes between Iran and Israel after America's attack on Iran's nuclear facilities [1] - US base in Billil, Northern Iraq, is on high alert [2] - Families of staff at US bases are being sent home, and some airlines are cancelling routes to the Gulf [2] - Israelis reportedly targeted Ivan prison inside Iran, a place where political prisoners are held, signaling continued efforts to destabilize the Iranian regime [4][5] Oil Market & Strait of Hormuz - There is nervousness among shipping companies regarding the Strait of Hormuz, but no active targeting by Iranians has been observed yet [3] - The oil price shift will be a key indicator of real risk in the Strait of Hormuz [3] Military Presence & Potential Escalation - Approximately 40,000 US troops are stationed across the Middle East, including the Gulf region [6] - A substantial strike by Iran could be detrimental, potentially an act of suicide, given President Trump's threats [7] Nuclear Program Concerns - Questions arise regarding the effectiveness of US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, with concerns about untargeted sites and the location of enriched uranium [5] - Iran possesses 60% enriched uranium, and its location is publicly unknown, posing a risk factor [6]