The United States has urged its citizens to leave Israel, the United Arab Emirates and more than a dozen other Middle Eastern countries “immediately”, as the conflict between Israel and Iran deepens for a third consecutive day.
In a sharply worded advisory, the US State Department warned Americans to depart using available commercial flights, citing escalating security risks following fresh Israeli bombardments of Tehran.
On Monday evening, Israeli forces reportedly launched another wave of air strikes on the Iranian capital. Witnesses described powerful explosions across the city, including at least two major blasts near the headquarters of Iran’s state broadcaster, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). The strikes marked a continuation of Israel’s offensive campaign, which began over the weekend.
As tensions surged, the State Department expanded its travel warning beyond Israel. Americans were told to leave Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
Mora Namdar, the US Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, said Secretary of State Marco Rubio was urging Americans to “depart now” from the listed countries due to serious safety risks. The message, posted on social media, stressed that citizens should use commercial transportation while it remains available.
The evacuation notice underscores growing fears that the confrontation could widen into a broader regional war. Iran has responded to Israeli strikes with waves of missile and drone attacks targeting US-linked assets and Gulf states. Several Gulf countries have reported interceptions of projectiles in recent days, while airspace disruptions and security alerts have intensified across the region.
Israel has also issued evacuation warnings of its own, advising residents in parts of Tehran — particularly those near IRIB’s headquarters — to move away from potential target areas.
Diplomatic efforts to contain the crisis appear fragile. While Gulf states have publicly called for restraint, privately they are said to be pressing Washington to pursue a diplomatic solution rather than risk a prolonged conflict that could destabilise energy markets and regional security.
The United States maintains a significant military presence across the Middle East, with tens of thousands of troops stationed in bases in the Gulf and surrounding countries. Analysts warn that these installations could become further targets if hostilities escalate.
For now, Washington’s immediate priority appears to be the safety of its citizens. The unusually broad evacuation advisory signals concern that the fighting may intensify — and that the window for safe departure could narrow rapidly.
As air strikes and retaliatory attacks continue, the region remains on edge, with international observers watching closely to see whether diplomacy can halt a slide into a wider war.
