The U.S. Department of State has advised American citizens to leave a number of Middle Eastern countries due to heightened security risks across the region.
Updated Advisory
The alert was issued March 2 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The State Department is urging U.S. citizens to depart using available commercial flights and not to delay travel plans.
According to the notice, regional tensions remain elevated and the risk to personal safety is considered high. Americans in the affected countries are advised to leave as soon as possible while commercial options remain available.
Countries Listed in the Advisory
- Bahrain
- Egypt
- Iran
- Iraq
- Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Lebanon
- Oman
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Syria
- United Arab Emirates
- Yemen
U.S. citizens who are unable to arrange their own departure are encouraged to contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for assistance. Travelers should also monitor updates from local diplomatic missions and confirm flight status directly with airlines.
The advisory applies to the full list of countries and emphasizes departure via regularly scheduled commercial services before conditions potentially deteriorate further.
Source: U.S. Department of State