The US State Department has asked American nationals in several Middle East countries to leave immediately using commercial transportation, citing serious safety risks as regional tensions intensify.
Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar said in a post on X that the State Department and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are urging Americans to “DEPART NOW” from the listed countries. The advisory follows the recent escalation in hostilities after the US and Israel announced a joint military operation against Iran.
"DEPART NOW from the countries below using available commercial transportation, due to serious safety risks," Namdar wrote.
Countries on the list
The advisory applies to the following countries:
Bahrain
Egypt
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Palestine, including Gaza and the occupied West Bank
Also Read | Iran confirms death of Khamenei’s wife after US–Israel strikes
Jordan
Kuwait
Lebanon
Oman
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Syria
The United Arab Emirates
Yemen
The State Department said Americans who require assistance in arranging departure through commercial means can contact +1-202-501-4444 from abroad or +1-888-407-4747 from within the US and Canada.
The @SecRubio @StateDept urges Americans to DEPART NOW from the countries below using available commercial transportation, due to serious safety risks. Americans who need State Department assistance arranging to depart via commercial means, CALL US 24/7 at +1-202-501-4444 (from… pic.twitter.com/vdplAik2Sq
— Assistant Secretary Mora Namdar (@AsstSecStateCA) March 2, 2026
Embassy incidents raise alarm
The warning comes after reported drone attacks targeting US diplomatic facilities in the region. On Monday, smoke was seen rising near the US Embassy in Kuwait City. Embassy officials advised American citizens to shelter in place and avoid visiting the mission.
Early Tuesday, Saudi defence officials confirmed that a drone strike on the US Embassy in Riyadh caused limited damage and a small fire. No further details were immediately released.
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The State Department had earlier issued Level 4 advisories for Iran, Iraq and Lebanon, calling on Americans to leave those countries due to heightened risks.
Escalation after US-Israel strikes on Iran
The situation worsened after the United States and Israel announced a joint operation against Iran. During the strikes, an Israeli raid in Tehran killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran has since vowed retaliation and carried out strikes across Israel and against US military bases in the region. Several Gulf nations, including Qatar, Iraq, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, have also reported attacks amid the ongoing conflict.
