U.S. Citizens Told to Depart 14 Middle Eastern Countries Including Egypt and Jordan

As violence in the Middle East intensifies following a joint U.S./Israel attack on Iran, the U.S. State Department is warning Americans in 14 Middle Eastern countries to “DEPART NOW.” The warning came via a social media post on X by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar.

The warning comes as Iran steps up its retaliatory attacks on U.S.-allied countries in the region, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and several other countries.

AP News reported that Iran struck the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with a drone early this morning. The news outlet also reported that targets have been in hit in the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

Yesterday, the U.S. State Department raised the Travel Advisor level for some of these countries to a Level 3: Reconsider Travel. These included United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Qatar.

Egypt remains at a Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution, but several areas within the country are at a Level 4: Do Not Travel, including the Northern and Middle Sinai Peninsula, Western Desert, and Egyptian Border Areas.

Several major airlines have already begun canceling flights to and from the region.