The U.S. State Department on Monday urged American citizens to depart the Middle East “as soon as possible,” citing escalating safety risks amid a widening conflict sparked by U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran over the weekend. The advisory encompasses Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
The State Department’s call for departure comes as many airports in the region remain closed or experience significant disruptions, complicating travel plans. While Washington has not initiated any evacuation operations, We see urging Americans to utilize commercial transportation for immediate departure. The agency has provided hotlines for citizens seeking assistance with leaving the region.
The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem announced Monday it would be closed Tuesday and stated it was “not in a position at this time to evacuate or directly assist Americans in departing Israel.” Yet, the embassy later reported that Israel had begun operating shuttle services to the Taba Border Crossing with Egypt, but cautioned it could not recommend whether citizens should utilize this route.
Estimates suggest between 500,000 and one million U.S. Nationals reside in the Middle East, though precise figures are unavailable as Americans are not required to register their presence with U.S. Authorities when moving abroad. The State Department issued a “worldwide caution” alert on Saturday, the first since June 22, 2025, following U.S. Intervention in the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran.
France has as well begun preparations to assist its citizens, with Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stating Tuesday that the country is ready to fly back those most at risk, utilizing both commercial and military flights. Approximately 400,000 French nationals are believed to be in the Middle East.
The United Kingdom is also working to account for its citizens in the region. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urged all British nationals in the Middle East to register their presence with the government to facilitate support. As of Tuesday, around 102,000 Britons had registered, out of an estimated 300,000 British citizens believed to be in the region. Many of those affected are tourists, transit passengers, or individuals on business trips, according to Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.
The UK government has previously used registration schemes during international crises, but officials acknowledge the scale of this situation – both in terms of the number of people and the geographic area affected – is unprecedented.
