The Iran war has escalated dramatically in recent days, with Americans urged by the U.S. State Department to leave fourteen countries across the Middle East out of serious safety concerns. The warning extended to Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
According to a source cited by multiple news outlets, over one million Americans are currently in these 14 nations, making this an unprecedented evacuation effort. The State Department instructed all non-emergency U.S. government personnel and their families to evacuate from Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE. Some of America’s embassies have already closed.
A drone attack on the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia caused a small fire but no serious damage, prompting an urgent shelter-in-place order by embassy officials for citizens in Riyadh, Dhahran, and Jeddah. The Saudi Ministry of Defense posted this update on X. Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait has been closed indefinitely due to regional tensions, with consular appointments canceled.
The conflict began Saturday when the U.S. and Israel launched a coordinated attack on Iran, targeting its missile capabilities and naval fleet, as well as preventing Iran from advancing toward nuclear weapons development. Over 600 lives have been lost in this proxy war so far, including six American soldiers who were killed in action, while eighteen others sustained serious injuries.
Americans, along with stranded travelers, are scrambling to find ways out of the region amid airport and airspace closures. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee addressed this issue on social media, noting that “there are very limited options” for Americans seeking evacuation from Israel.
Huckabee provided detailed instructions on how people could depart if they needed assistance arranging travel, offering two phone numbers: +1-202-501-4444 for international calls and +1-888-407-4747 within the U.S. and Canada.
These actions highlight a complex situation where personal safety is paramount amidst geopolitical unrest in one of the most volatile regions globally.