The outbreak of fighting between ethiopia and eritrea may result in a threat to maritime interests in the…

Original warning text

1. THE OUTBREAK OF FIGHTING BETWEEN ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA MAY RESULT IN A THREAT TO MARITIME INTERESTS IN THE PORTS OF ASSAB AND MASSAWA, ERITREA.
2. THE OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE (ONI) REPORTS ETHIOPIA HAS MADE CARGO MISAPPROPRIATION CLAIMS AMOUNTING TO $127 MILLION AGAINST THE TWO ERITREAN PORTS. ONI ADVISES THAT DURING THE LONG CIVIL WAR WHICH EVENTUALLY RESULTED IN ERITREAN INDEPENDENCE, CARGO VESSELS ARRIVING IN THESE PORTS WITH WEAPONS AND OTHER GOODS DESTINED FOR THE ETHIOPIAN GOVERNMENT WERE RAIDED AND IN SOME CASES DESTROYED. OTHER SHIPPING IN THE RED SEA WAS THREATENED AND FIRED UPON NEAR WHAT IS NOW THE ERITREAN COAST AND IN DISPUTED WATERS BETWEEN YEMEN AND WHAT IS NOW ERITREA.
3. THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS WARNED U.S. CITIZENS AGAINST TRAVEL TO ERITREA AND URGED THOSE ALREADY IN ERITREA TO DEPART THE COUNTRY.
4. U.S. MARINERS ARE ADVISED TO AVOID THE PORTS OF ASSAB AND MASSAWA AND TO REMAIN CLEAR OF ERITREAN TERRITORIAL WATERS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.