Evacuation Order Issued for 14 Middle Eastern Countries
U.S. Official: "Significant Escalation of Attacks Within 24 Hours"
As the war with Iran entered its third day, the U.S. government urged its citizens staying throughout the Middle East to leave immediately.
According to major foreign media outlets including Bloomberg News, on the 2nd (local time) the U.S. Department of State issued an evacuation order for its citizens residing in Middle Eastern countries.
The travel advisory applies to 14 countries: Iran, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iraq, Qatar, Israel, West Bank and Gaza Strip, Jordan, and Yemen.
Mora Namdar, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, stated, "Due to safety risks, U.S. nationals staying in these countries are strongly urged to depart immediately by commercial transportation options if possible."
On the 2nd (local time), the U.S. Department of State issued an evacuation order for its citizens staying in Middle Eastern countries. The travel advisory applies to 14 locations: Iran, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iraq, Qatar, Israel along with the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Jordan, and Yemen. Mora Namdar, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.
The U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia also posted a notice on social media on the morning of the 3rd (local time), advising U.S. citizens in Saudi Arabia to shelter indoors, such as at home, after a fire broke out following a drone strike.
U.S. embassies across the Middle East are being closed or their staff withdrawn one after another. Earlier that day, the U.S. Embassy in Jordan announced that its staff had left the area due to safety concerns. The U.S. Embassy in Kuwait stated that it would suspend all work until further notice and urged U.S. citizens not to come to the embassy but to immediately seek shelter elsewhere.
On February 28, after being attacked by the United States and Israel, Iran began retaliatory strikes not only against Israel but also targeting U.S. military bases across the Middle East.
As the war entered its fourth day, a U.S. government official commented that the United States is expected to intensify its attacks on Iran. CNN, citing a senior U.S. official, reported that the United States is preparing to "significantly escalate" its strikes against Iran within the next 24 hours. According to the official, the United States achieved its initial goal of weakening Iran's defenses with the first wave of attacks, and in the next phase, will focus on destroying Iran's missile production facilities, as well as its drone and naval capabilities.
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