The United States government has ordered its citizens to leave more than twelve countries in West Asia because military operations between the United States and Israel against Iran have created escalating security threats.
The U. S. State Department issued an advisory on Monday which recommends that Americans should leave the area through commercial flight options because security dangers are increasing.
Mora Namdar, Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs at the State Department, said U. S. citizens should “depart using available commercial transportation due to safety risks,” as the situation continues to deteriorate.
Countries Covered Under the Advisory
The warning applies to the following countries:
Bahrain
Egypt
Iran
Iraq
Israel
West Bank and Gaza
Jordan
Kuwait
Lebanon
Oman
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Syria
United Arab Emirates
Yemen
The department has issued new travel warnings which prohibit travel to specific destinations because of the increasing fighting in those areas.
Embassy Drawdown and Emergency Response
The U. S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan announced its personnel had vacated their embassy compound because of an existing security threat. The State Department has established an inter-agency emergency task force to manage the Washington response while supporting citizens who were affected.
Escalation of Hostilities
The advisory follows a major escalation over the weekend. The United States and Israel conducted simultaneous strikes on various Iranian locations on February 28. Tehran responded with retaliatory strikes on U. S. and Israeli-linked sites across the region.
U. S. President Donald Trump said Monday that while the conflict was initially projected to last four to five weeks, it could extend longer depending on developments on the ground.
The expanding conflict has caused many fatalities while making the entire region more unstable than before.
Impact on Global Energy Markets
Energy markets have reacted sharply to the crisis, with oil prices rising after Iranian officials warned they could target vessels attempting to transit the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz — a key maritime route for a substantial portion of the world’s oil supply.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Energy Secretary Chris Wright are expected to announce measures aimed at stabilizing energy prices. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration had anticipated potential market disruptions and would begin rolling out mitigation steps shortly.
As tensions remain high, U.S. officials continue to monitor the situation closely while urging American citizens in the region to prioritize their safety and depart as soon as possible.
