What to Do If You’re an American in the Middle East Right Now
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.”
US citizens in Iran, Jordan, UAE, Qatar, Iraq, and Kuwait have been told to shelter in place
The US Department of State Consular Affairs and related embassies posted on X Saturday morning that US citizens in countries including Iran, Jordan, the UAE, and Qatar were advised to shelter in place until further notice.
By Monday, shelter-in-place advisories were also in effect for Iraq and Kuwait. US citizens in Lebanon were told to prepare to shelter in place should the situation deteriorate.
A note to shelter in place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, had been lifted, while it remained in Dhahran. US citizens, including military personnel, must exercise caution and limit non-essential travel to military installations in the region, US Mission Saudi Arabia said.
US Mission Iraq said US citizens should not go to the embassy in Baghdad or the Consulate General in Erbil and to “exercise increased caution, keep a low profile, and shelter in place until further notice” following reports of missiles, drones, and rockets in Iraqi airspace.
US citizens were told to avoid areas around the July 14th Bridge in Baghdad, due to ongoing demonstrations against the US, which it said more were being called for throughout the country.
The US Embassy in Jerusalem said on Sunday that 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. On Sunday, the US Embassy in Bahrain told Americans to avoid hotels in Manama.
“The US Embassy in Bahrain is tracking confirmed reports the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Manama was struck on March 1, 2026, resulting in injuries,” the embassy said in an X post. “We advise US citizens in Bahrain that hotels might be a target for future attacks, and encourage US citizens to avoid hotels in Manama.”
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On Monday, the US Department of State Consular Affairs warned of a “continuing threat of missile and UAV attacks over Kuwait,” and advised US citizens to shelter in place, review security plans in the event of an attack, and stay alert in case of future attacks.
It also advised against going to the US embassy and said to stay alert for loud explosions and sirens.
“Take cover in your residence on the lowest available floor and away from windows. Do not go outside,” it said.
On Monday, the US government told US citizens not to travel to Lebanon and to leave “NOW” while commercial flights are available amid a “volatile and unpredictable” security situation following airstrikes. It told people to be prepared to shelter in place if the situation deteriorates.
The US Department of State Consular Affairs also noted on Sunday that it was monitoring ongoing demonstrations at the US Consulates General in Karachi and Lahore. 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 Enrolment Program” registration is updated, it said.
From Monday, the US Consulate General in Peshawar temporarily suspended operations, while the embassy in Islamabad continued to provide all routine or emergency consular services for US citizens.
Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar have closed their airspaces. On Saturday, a video shared on Flightradar24 showed airplanes leaving the region.
Airports in the Middle East shared travel updates online. All flights at Dubai International and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International were suspended until further notice on Saturday, but by Monday, Dubai Airports said a limited number would begin that day.
Travellers were advised to proceed to DXB or DWC airports only once their airline confirms their departure time.
King Abdulaziz International Airport in Saudi Arabia, Hamad International Airport in Doha, and Abu Dhabi Airports gave similar advice to passengers: not to travel to those airports at this time and to contact their respective airlines for flight updates.
Dubai International Airport said it sustained “minor damage” in an incident on Saturday. The airport said it “was quickly contained.” At nearby Zayed International Airport (AUH), about 77 miles away, authorities also responded to an incident of an intercepted drone.
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.
