The warning, released by Mora Namdar, Undersecretary for Consular Affairs, states that Americans must leave “now” using commercial means as long as they remain available, due to “serious security risks” in the region.
The recommendation covers Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. According to the State Department, the security situation is “fluid and volatile”, with the potential to deteriorate further in the coming hours. In addition, the agency announced the activation of an emergency inter-agency working group to coordinate the U.S. government's response to the ongoing crisis
The move comes on the third day of US and Israeli attacks against targets in Iran. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have argued that the operations seek to weaken the Iranian regime's ability to threaten regional stability and open the door to a freer future for the Iranian people. Washington has defended the offensive as a necessary response to the hostile actions of Tehran and
its allies.
Iran has responded with the launch of missiles and drones against Israeli territory and with attacks aimed at other points in the region, especially civilian infrastructure, expanding the scope of the conflict. U.S. officials warn that this dynamic significantly increases risks for civilians and diplomatic personnel in several Middle Eastern countries
.
In Israel, Ben Gurion Airport remains closed and airspace is not expected to reopen before the start of next week, complicating departure options. However, the State Department insists that citizens should take advantage of any available commercial alternative. Days before, the institution had already authorized the departure of non-essential personnel and family members stationed in Israel due to increasing risks.
President Trump warned of the dangerousness that the Iranian regime represents to international security
In Jordan, the U.S. embassy in Amman announced the evacuation of its personnel after identifying a specific threat. The decision underlines the seriousness of Washington's security assessments. In addition, the American ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, would have indicated to the diplomatic staff that those who wish to leave the country should do
so “today”.
A senior US official quoted by media said that a “significant increase” in attacks in Iran is expected in the next 24 hours, which could further intensify the confrontation. Faced with this scenario, the U.S. government emphasizes that its priority is to protect its citizens and ensure their safety abroad
.
The update of travel alerts in several countries in the region reflects Washington's constant assessment of the evolution of the conflict. State Department officials stressed that the instruction to leave is not merely preventive, but based on intelligence that points to an increasingly unpredictable environment
. The United States ambassador to Israel assured that diplomatic personnel who wish to evacuate the country should do so urgently
