The State Department told Americans in the Middle East on Saturday to consider leaving the region or be ready to depart on short notice as the conflict with Iran escalated. The warning went out through U.S. embassies in 10 countries and told Americans to expect flight cancellations, airspace closures, and travel disruptions.
Americans currently in the Middle East should exercise caution and heightened vigilance and should be prepared for flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and potential travel disruptions. Some airlines in the region have postponed resumption of earlier flight schedules; others have cancelled some routes. Americans in the region should consider departing, or be prepared to depart should there be escalation.
U.S. embassies issue regional warning
The warning reached Americans through U.S. embassies in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. That broad distribution gives the advisory immediate practical reach for people moving between those countries, especially anyone relying on commercial flights or border transit.
Alexandra Marquez of NBC News reported that the State Department posted a nearly identical statement earlier this month, but the earlier bulletin did not urge Americans to prepare to leave the Middle East or to reconsider upcoming trips. This time, the wording went further and paired departure guidance with a wider travel warning.
Trump, Iran, and the latest strikes
The advisory came after Donald Trump said Friday that the U.S. will be "hitting them very hard." Iran vowed to "punish" the U.S. as both nations traded what some U.S. officials described as "heavy" strikes. Two days ago, the U.S. military said it had executed a "heavy wave of strikes" on Iran.
On Saturday, the Kuwait Army said its air defense systems intercepted drone attacks from Iran. The Kuwait Army said, "Kuwaiti air defenses are currently engaging hostile drone attacks following the Iranian aggression. The General Staff of the Army notes that any explosions heard are a result of air defense systems intercepting the hostile attacks."
Trump had repeatedly predicted early that the war would resolve itself "shortly," but the conflict has now entered its sixth month. The protracted fighting has helped drive soaring oil prices globally and rising gas prices in the U.S., while the short reprieve in June and the renewed strikes in early July left no durable pause in place.
For Americans in the region, the immediate step is to watch for airline changes and embassy instructions before moving overland or to an airport. The State Department’s message is aimed at people who may need to leave on short notice, not after schedules have already broken down.
