The United States has issued a stark warning, urging its citizens to immediately depart the Middle East due to escalating conflict. The US State Department advised Americans to leave Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen via commercial means.
Washington has not yet organized any government-led evacuations. This advisory comes as the US-Israeli war against Iran intensifies, prompting retaliatory missile and drone strikes from Iran against US-allied nations. An estimated 500,000 to one million US nationals reside in the region. The US embassy in Jerusalem stated it cannot assist Americans departing Israel, though shuttle services to the Taba Border Crossing with Egypt are reportedly operating.
Several European nations, including France and the UK, are also working to support their citizens in the Middle East, with France preparing flights and the UK urging its estimated 300,000 nationals to register for assistance. The scope of this crisis, impacting large numbers of tourists, business travelers, and transit passengers, is unprecedented.