1 hour ago
Last Updated:March 03, 2026, 07:45 IST
Advisory applies to Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
Americans Told to Depart 16 Middle East Countries Over Safety Risks. (Image: REUTERS)
The US Department of State on Monday called on Americans to immediately leave more than a dozen countries in the West Asia, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, amid US-Israeli strikes against Iran.
Mora Namdar, the State Department’s assistant secretary for consular affairs, said US citizens should depart using available commercial transportation “due to safety risks". The warning followed updated travel advisories issued in recent days recommending against travel to several countries across the region.
Countries covered by advisory
Monday’s advisory applies to Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
Earlier on Monday, the US Embassy in Amman, Jordan, announced that its personnel had departed the site “due to a threat".
The US Embassy in Riyadh was attacked by Iran on Tuesday.
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
Emergency response activated
The US State Department has activated an inter-agency emergency task force to manage the situation and coordinate the United States’ response to the conflict, according to a US official.
Strikes and retaliation
On Saturday, the United States and Israel carried out a barrage of strikes on various targets in Iran, killing many top officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran responded with strikes at multiple US and Israeli sites across the region.
US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the conflict had been projected to last four to five weeks but could continue for longer.
West Asia war and energy concerns
The conflict has pushed the region into war, leaving scores of people dead and causing a sharp rise in energy prices. Iranian officials threatened to fire on any ship attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for the world’s oil supply.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Energy Secretary Chris Wright are expected on Tuesday to announce steps to mitigate rising energy prices, according to Washington’s top diplomat Marco Rubio.
“We anticipated this could be an issue, and Secretary Wright and Bessent will begin to roll out those steps, starting tomorrow, to mitigate, to mitigate against the impact that could have," Rubio said ahead of a briefing with congressional leaders about the strikes.
Location :
United States of America (USA)
First Published:
March 03, 2026, 07:45 IST
News world ‘DEPART NOW’: US Tells Americans In West Asia To Leave Immediately Amid Conflict With Iran
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