U.S Citizens urged to leave these countries immediately after Iran…See more

Rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East — particularly following **U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iranian targets — have prompted the United States Department of State to issue one of its most sweeping travel advisories in recent history. On March 2, 2026, the State Department urged American citizens in more than a dozen Middle Eastern countries to “depart now” using available commercial transportation due to “serious safety risks” as regional instability escalates. The advisory reflects growing concern that the security situation could deteriorate rapidly and unexpectedly, potentially endangering civilians and travelers in the region. This rare directive underscores how quickly geopolitical violence has spread beyond Iran’s borders and how alarmed U.S. officials are about the safety of their nationals abroad.

The advisory issued by the State Department covers a broad swath of nations across the Middle East and Gulf region, where Americans often live, work, or travel. U.S. citizens were advised to depart Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen due to ongoing threats and uncertainties. Officials specifically emphasized the urgency of departing via commercial flights while they remain operational, as airspace closures, airline suspensions, and escalating conflict could make departures more difficult in the coming days. The advisory was publicly communicated by Mora Namdar, the State Department’s Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, who stated that Americans should leave “due to serious safety risks,” a phrase repeated in official posts and press releases tied to the alert.