US embassies in several Middle Eastern capitals have warned American citizens to prepare for an “unforeseen escalation” in the region’s ongoing conflict, urging them to be ready to leave if necessary.
“Americans in the region should consider departing, or be prepared to depart should there be escalation,” said a security alert posted by US missions in Amman, Jerusalem and Baghdad.
The alerts told citizens to check flight details and follow safety guidance from local authorities.
“Americans currently in the Middle East should exercise caution and heightened vigilance and should be prepared for flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and potential travel disruptions,” the alert said.
Americans Told to Locate Bomb Shelters, Avoid Bases
Americans in Jordan were told to avoid US military bases there, which have recently come under Iranian missile attack, while those in Israel were urged to locate the nearest bomb shelter.
“The Iranian regime is unpredictable, as seen by its recent decisions to attack areas in the region without warning or provocations as well as to expand attacks to areas not previously targeted (such as Egypt),” the US Embassy in Jerusalem said.
On Wednesday, a drone struck a US-owned gas vessel moored at an Egyptian port, sparking a fire. Egypt is investigating the incident but has not yet attributed it to any group.
Mourners in Baghdad this week carried the bodies of members of Iraq’s Hashed al-Shaabi, or Popular Mobilisation Forces, a paramilitary alliance that includes pro-Iran groups, after several were killed in US-Saudi strikes in Diyala, central Iraq.
Iran, US Resume Overnight Exchanges of Fire
Iran’s military has accused Washington of “escalating tensions” in the region, warning that “any country serving as defensive shield for criminal and aggressive America will be engulfed by the flames of war.”
This week, Iran and the United States resumed overnight exchanges of fire after a days-long lull in fighting, though no strikes were reported overnight from Friday into Saturday.
The Middle East war began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, which has since retaliated with missile and drone strikes across the region, drawing in neighbouring countries and further straining regional stability.
