The US State Department issued an urgent directive calling for all US citizens to depart 14 Middle Eastern countries immediately.
The sweeping advisory comes as the region slides into further instability following the start of the US-led military campaign against Iran.
The Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, Mora Namdar, underscored the gravity of the security situation in a high-priority alert.
She urged Americans to utilize any remaining commercial transportation to exit a list of territories that includes Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the UAE, and Yemen, as well as the West Bank and Gaza.
Crisis in Iran
The Department issued a particularly stark warning for those currently in Iran, instructing them to “depart now” via land crossings where possible.
The alert follows the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, which has triggered widespread internal unrest and a collapse of standard travel routes.
With several international carriers already suspending flights due to regional airspace closures, officials warned that the window for commercial departure is closing rapidly.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
