The United States has urged its citizens to immediately leave 14 countries across the Middle East as tensions intensify following expanding conflict involving Iran and its regional proxies. Late Monday, the U.S. State Department advised Americans in Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen to depart using available commercial transportation due to serious security risks. Officials estimate that more than a million Americans are currently in the region.
The State Department has also ordered the departure of all non-emergency U.S. government personnel and their families from Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Several U.S. diplomatic missions have suspended operations amid rising hostilities. In Saudi Arabia, two drones struck near the U.S. Embassy, causing a small fire and limited damage, according to the Saudi Ministry of Defense. Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait announced its closure until further notice after smoke was seen near the mission following Iranian attacks.
The escalating crisis follows U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran that began Saturday, targeting what U.S. President Donald Trump described as critical threats including Iran’s ballistic missile systems and nuclear program. The strikes reportedly hit more than 1,000 targets in the opening phase of what officials say could become a prolonged conflict. Six U.S. troops have been killed and 18 seriously wounded so far, while Iran’s Red Crescent reported at least 787 deaths in Iran. With airspace disruptions and airport closures across the region, many Americans are now scrambling to find ways to leave as diplomatic missions warn that evacuation options remain extremely limited.
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