The United States has asked its citizens to leave more than a dozen countries in the Middle East immediately, warning of “serious safety risks” as fighting in the region intensifies.
The alert comes days after coordinated American and Israeli airstrikes targeted multiple sites in Iran, triggering retaliatory missile and drone attacks by Tehran on US-linked locations and regional allies. Due to the spread of hostilities, Washington has issued urgent public advisories for Americans in the region.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued the warning in a video message shared on X. “To all American citizens in the Middle East: your safety and security is our number one priority,” he said, urging people to enrol in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) for updates. He also directed citizens to seek information through @TravelGov and said the department’s emergency lines are open round the clock.
To all American citizens in the Middle East: your safety and security is our number one priority.
Sign up to receive STEP alerts at https://t.co/SpQfuj4gN2.
Get information at @TravelGov and you can call the department 24/7 at +1-202-501-4444. pic.twitter.com/G8grZVgmCF
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) March 2, 2026
In a separate post on X, Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar reiterated the message, asking Americans to “DEPART NOW” using commercial flights where available. She said those needing help to arrange travel could contact the State Department’s 24/7 helplines from abroad or from within the United States and Canada.
The @SecRubio @StateDept urges Americans to DEPART NOW from the countries below using available commercial transportation, due to serious safety risks. Americans who need State Department assistance arranging to depart via commercial means, CALL US 24/7 at +1-202-501-4444 (from… pic.twitter.com/vdplAik2Sq
— Assistant Secretary Mora Namdar (@AsstSecStateCA) March 2, 2026
Countries covered under the US advisory
The advisory, last updated at 4 pm EST on March 2, applies to Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan, Iran, Oman, Egypt, Lebanon, Bahrain, Kuwait, Israel, Iraq, Qatar, the West Bank and Gaza, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
The development follows a sharp military escalation that began on February 28, when US and Israeli forces carried out strikes across several Iranian cities. According to the inputs, the targets included command centres, missile facilities, air-defence systems, and other key installations.
The strikes led to the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and four senior military and security officials. Large explosions were reported in Tehran and other cities.
Iran responded by firing ballistic missiles and deploying drones at US-linked assets and partner countries across the region, including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan. The exchanges have raised concerns for civilians and expatriates in affected areas.
Separately, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that six American service members have been killed amid the ongoing conflict. In a post on X, CENTCOM said that as of 4 pm ET on March 2, six personnel had died in action. It added that the remains of two previously missing service members had recently been recovered from a facility struck during Iran’s initial attacks. The names of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
Earlier on Monday, President Donald Trump said the US would press ahead with military operations against Iran. He stated that the objective was to dismantle the country’s missile capabilities, curb its nuclear ambitions, and end its support for terrorism.