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The U.S. Embassy in Beirut issued a security alert on Thursday, March 19, 2026, urging American citizens to strongly consider departing Lebanon on available commercial flights operated by Middle East Airlines out of Beirut Rafic Hariri airport. The alert, mirroring similar advisories from U.S. Diplomatic missions across the Middle East, comes amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing monitoring of the situation by the U.S. Government.

According to the embassy, the options for departure, shelter in place, and mission operations remain unchanged. The U.S. Government is prepared to assist citizens with the latest information regarding departure options, with President Trump, Secretary of State Rubio, and the Department of State prioritizing the safety and security of American citizens. The alert advises those who choose to remain in Lebanon to be prepared to shelter in place with adequate supplies of food, water, medications, and other essential items.

The security alert follows a similar advisory issued by the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem on the same day, covering Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. That alert also emphasized the importance of being prepared to shelter in place and noted the Department of State is assessing commercial air and ground transportation options. The Israeli Ministry of Transport has made available an application form for foreign nationals seeking assistance with departure.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, announced it will be closed from Thursday, March 19 to Tuesday, March 24, 2026, to observe the Eid Al-Fitr Holiday, with a delayed response time for non-emergency inquiries until March 25, 2026. The Riyadh embassy encourages U.S. Citizens to depart Saudi Arabia via commercial flights, acknowledging potential air traffic restrictions due to ongoing missile and drone threats. Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam airports remain operational, but travelers are advised to check flight statuses directly with airlines.

The U.S. Embassy in Tehran also issued a security alert update on March 19, 2026, directing U.S. Citizens to follow the “U.S. Citizen Consular Information: Iran” channel on WhatsApp for the latest security alerts and to ensure their cell phones are charged and programmed with emergency contact numbers.

All four embassies urged Americans to remain vigilant, follow instructions from local authorities, and review the latest guidance from the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Citizens are also cautioned to be aware of potential scams and to report any instances of fraud to the FBI.

The U.S. Embassy in Beirut has resumed limited passport services on an emergency basis, while all routine consular services remain suspended.