US embassies across several Middle East countries issued urgent new warnings this weekend, telling American citizens to get ready to leave the region. This alerts came from US embassies in Jordan, Israel, and Iraq.
The embassies used almost the exact same wording in their warnings. “Americans in the region should consider departing, or be prepared to depart should there be escalation.” Officials warned that the ongoing conflict could suddenly become worse in unexpected ways.
The warnings advised Americans to check their flight status directly with airlines and to follow safety instructions from local governments. Officials also warned that airlines could cancel flights and that airspace over parts of the region could close without much notice.
In Jordan, the embassy told Americans to avoid military bases in the country. In Israel, the embassy asked Americans to know the location of their nearest shelter and remain alert for missile and drone attacks.
The US Embassy in Jerusalem said Iran’s actions are difficult to predict. It said Iran has launched surprise attacks on new areas before. The embassy pointed to a recent strike that reached Egypt, which had mostly stayed out of the conflict until then.
The incident in Egypt happened on Wednesday when a drone hit the US-owned floating gas storage vessel Energos Winter at the Port of Damietta. The fire quickly spread to another nearby tanker called Gaslog Salem. Both crews evacuated safely, and no injuries were reported.
Egyptian officials confirmed a drone caused the fire but have not officially blamed any country or group for the attack. Some media reports said Iranian state television mentioned Damietta as a possible target two days earlier. However, that statement was linked to tensions between Iran and Ukraine instead of the United States. Officials have not confirmed who was responsible, and the incident is still under investigation.
Iranian officials also blamed the United States for making the conflict more dangerous across the region. They warned that any country supporting American military actions could face a strong response.
This week brought a mix of intense fighting and short periods of calm. After several quieter days, US and Iranian forces resumed overnight attacks. Iran also hit a Chinese-owned building in Kuwait, killing one person. It also launched several ballistic missiles toward Jordan, showing the conflict is spreading to more countries.
President Trump discussed the war during a Cabinet meeting on Friday, saying American forces were doing an “amazing job” and describing Iran as struggling badly in the conflict. Trump also said the fighting had not lasted as long as past wars such as Vietnam and Afghanistan.
The war was started on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched joint airstrikes on Iranian military targets. Iran later responded with missile and drone attacks across the region, and the fighting has continued to expand since then.
The situation remains highly unpredictable for both American citizens living abroad and countries across the Middle East. The war continues to spread to more areas with no clear signs of slowing down.
