Americans in many Middle Eastern countries have been advised to shelter in place after the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Saturday.
Mora Namdar, the assistant secretary of the Bureau of Consular Affairs at the US State Department, wrote in a post on X on Saturday evening that Americans worldwide should enroll at step.state.gov “to receive the latest security alerts for their location, including any travel disruptions due to periodic airspace closures.”
“Also follow our WhatsApp channel ‘US Department of State — Security Updates for US Citizens’ and @TravelGov social media,” Namdar added. “Americans in the Middle East region who need consular assistance can call 24/7 at +1-202-501-4444 from overseas or +1-888-407-4747 from the US and Canada.”
The US Department of State Consular Affairs and related embassies posted on X Saturday morning that US citizens in countries including Iran, Bahrain, Jordan, UAE, Qatar, were advised to shelter in place until further notice.
Hours later, it posted guidance for US citizens in Iraq, advising them to “exercise increased caution, limit their movements, and be prepared to shelter in place.”
“There are reports of missiles, drones, or rockets in Iraqi airspace. The security environment remains complex and can change quickly,” the US Department of State Consular Affairs wrote.
“If you are in Iraq, you should review your personal security plan and evaluate options to shelter in place or depart Iraq should the situation deteriorate,” it continued.
The US Embassy in Jerusalem said it had directed all US government employees and their families to shelter in place, and that Israel had closed airspace to all civilian flights.
The US Department of State Consular Affairs also warned of imminent drone and missile attacks in Bahrain.
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The US Embassy in Beirut wrote that the Department of State “urges US citizens to depart Lebanon now while commercial options remain available.”
The US Department of State Consular Affairs also noted that “out of an abundance of caution” US citizens in Pakistan should follow strong personal safety precautions, including staying aware of their surroundings, avoiding large crowds, and ensuring that their “Smart Traveler Enrollment Program” registration is updated.
Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar have closed their airspaces. A video shared on Flightradar24 showed airplanes leaving the region.
Of the approximately 3,400 flights scheduled to the region, 230 were cancelled as of 12 p.m. Central European time, while 40 due to fly on Sunday were preemptively cancelled.
Airports in the region shared travel updates online. Dubai Airports said all flights at Dubai International and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International were suspended until further notice. It advised passengers not to travel to those airports at this time, and to contact their respective airlines for updates on flights.
Dubai International Airport said the airport had “sustained minor damage” on Saturday in an incident. The airport said it “was quickly contained.” Nearby, Zayed International Airport (AUH), about 77 miles away, authorities also responded to an incident of an intercepted drone.
King Abdulaziz International Airport in Saudi Arabia, Hamad International Airport in Doha, and Abu Dhabi Airports gave similar advice to passengers.
In a video statement posted on social media on Saturday, President Donald Trump vowed to destroy Iran’s missile program and navy and said the objective of the strikes is to “defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats.”
“My administration has taken every possible step to minimize the risk to US personnel in the region. Even so — and I do not make this statement lightly — the Iranian regime seeks to kill,” Trump said.
“The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties. That often happens in war,” Trump continued.
