United States embassies across the Middle East issued coordinated alerts on Friday urging American citizens to consider departing the region immediately, citing heightened security risks amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran.
The State Department advisory covered embassy operations in Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, and several other nations in the region. The alerts warned that the security environment could deteriorate rapidly and that the ability of the US government to assist Americans in an emergency could be limited.
“US citizens in the region should consider departing while commercial transportation options remain available,” the advisory stated. The warnings came as the US military continued its campaign of strikes against Iranian military and energy infrastructure, while Iran responded with drone and missile attacks on American-allied Gulf states.
Kuwait’s military reported intercepting additional Iranian drone waves on Friday, while a commercial tanker was reportedly struck in the Strait of Hormuz, further disrupting global shipping lanes. The Pentagon confirmed that US naval forces in the region had been placed on heightened alert.
The travel advisories represent one of the broadest evacuation-related warnings the State Department has issued in the region in recent years, reflecting the gravity of the current military confrontation. Previous advisories had been limited to specific conflict zones such as Yemen and parts of Iraq.
American Airlines, Delta, and United have all suspended flights to several Middle Eastern destinations in recent days, further complicating travel options for US citizens seeking to leave the region. Some commercial airlines still operate routes through Turkey and Egypt, which have not been directly affected by the current hostilities.
The advisories drew sharp criticism from some Democratic lawmakers, who argued that the escalating crisis was a direct result of the administration’s decision to launch military operations against Iran without explicit Congressional authorization. Senator Chris Murphy called the situation “entirely preventable” and renewed calls for a vote on war powers.
Meanwhile, officials in several European nations issued similar but less urgent advisories for their own citizens. The UK Foreign Office updated its guidance to warn against all travel to Iran and parts of Iraq, while Germany and France recommended that their nationals in the Gulf states review their security arrangements.
Sources: Euractiv, France 24, The Times of Israel
Author: USA Desk
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