The State Department on Wednesday issued a travel warning for U.S. citizens traveling to Libya just days after the third anniversary of the 2012 terrorist attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi.
The government agency also recommended that U.S. citizens currently in Libya "depart immediately" because of the "unpredictable and unstable" condition of the country.
"On July 26, 2014, the U.S. Embassy suspended all embassy operations in Libya and relocated staff outside of the country because of ongoing violence between Libyan militias in the immediate vicinity of the Embassy," the travel warning advised. "The security situation in Libya remains unpredictable and unstable."
The State Department said that global terrorism alerts indicate that extremist groups continue to plot terrorist attacks against U.S. entities in Libya and the broader Middle East.
"The Libyan government has not been able to build its military and police forces and improve security following the 2011 revolution. Many military-grade weapons remain in the hands of private individuals, U.S. and U.N.-designated terrorists, and other armed groups," the warning stated. "In addition to the threat of crime, the threat of kidnapping is high and various groups have called for attacks against U.S. citizens and U.S. interests in Libya."
The U.S. government, which prohibits U.S. commercial flights in Libyan airspace, is "very concerned about the targeting of commercial transportation" in the region, the released explained.
The State Department also took into account the unrest created by the Islamic State (IS, also known as ISIL or ISIS) in the Middle East when issuing the travel warning.
"Terrorist organizations, including ISIL affiliated groups and al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, continue to threaten the region," the advisory said. "Recent terrorist attacks have occurred in the border region, where extremists have kidnapped Westerners."
The State Department previously issued a travel warning for U.S. citizens traveling to and residing in Libya in January.
The warning comes three years after a terrorist attack on the U.S. compound in Benghazi killed four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens, at the time that Hillary Clinton was secretary of state.