‘Serious safety risks’: US urges Americans to depart from 13 Middle Eastern nations immediately
Kartavya Desk Staff
Citing “serious safety risks,” the United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio early Tuesday urged American citizens to depart immediately from Middle Eastern nations, including Iran, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Gaza, West Bank, United Arab Emirates, via commercial means. Taking to X, the Assistant Secretary at the US State Department, Mora Namdar, wrote: “The @SecRubio @StateDept urges Americans to DEPART NOW from the countries below using available commercial transportation, due to serious safety risks. Americans who need State Department assistance arranging to depart via commercial means, CALL US 24/7 at +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad) and +1-888-407-4747 (from the U.S. and Canada). ENROLL in http://step.state.gov to get the latest security updates from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.” The announcement comes as the Middle East faces a period of heightened regional volatility with the UAE Ministry of Defence confirming the interception of a “third wave” of Iranian missile strikes targeting civilian and military infrastructure. This dangerous escalation follows a direct military confrontation involving Iran, Israel, and the US, with Tehran launching widespread aerial attacks in response to ongoing regional hostilities. > The @SecRubio @StateDept urges Americans to DEPART NOW from the countries below using available commercial transportation, due to serious safety risks. Americans who need State Department assistance arranging to depart via commercial means, CALL US 24/7 at +1-202-501-4444 (from… pic.twitter.com/vdplAik2Sq — Assistant Secretary Mora Namdar (@AsstSecStateCA) March 2, 2026 The @SecRubio @StateDept urges Americans to DEPART NOW from the countries below using available commercial transportation, due to serious safety risks. Americans who need State Department assistance arranging to depart via commercial means, CALL US 24/7 at +1-202-501-4444 (from… pic.twitter.com/vdplAik2Sq — Assistant Secretary Mora Namdar (@AsstSecStateCA) March 2, 2026 The countries included in the advisory are Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel (including the West Bank and Gaza), Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. The US State Department also issued helpline numbers for American citizens to provide them assistance by arranging for commercial means to depart from these countries in the Middle East. It also urged them to enroll into its ‘Smart Traveller Enrollment Program’ (STEP) to receive updates on the security situation from their respective US embassy or consulate. The program is a free service that enables US citizens and its nationals to enroll their international trip, for the Department of State to “accurately and quickly contact them in case of emergency,” according to the official website. Later sharing a video on X, Rubio asserted that the safety and security of Americans across the wrold was the “number one priority” of the US Department of State. “… With Operation Epic Fury and the cowardly attacks that we’re seeing from Iran against Gulf countries, I wanted to take this chance to speak directly to Americans who are in the Middle East about the work we are doing to try to keep you safe,” he said. “So, immediately following the beginning of this operation, at my direction, the State Department activated a 24×7 task force, surging personnel and resources necessary to help provide American citizens with up-to-the-minute safety and security information,” he said. He also encouraged American abroad to follow US’ security updates for US citizens’ channel on WhatsApp, as well as follow @TravelGov on social media platforms. > To all American citizens in the Middle East: your safety and security is our number one priority. Sign up to receive STEP alerts at https://t.co/SpQfuj4gN2. Get information at @TravelGov and you can call the department 24/7 at +1-202-501-4444. pic.twitter.com/G8grZVgmCF — Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) March 2, 2026 To all American citizens in the Middle East: your safety and security is our number one priority. Sign up to receive STEP alerts at https://t.co/SpQfuj4gN2. Get information at @TravelGov and you can call the department 24/7 at +1-202-501-4444. pic.twitter.com/G8grZVgmCF — Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) March 2, 2026 As Rubio announced, American citizens can also receive latest alerts on travel.state.gov. They can also reach out to the Department of State 24×7 at +1-202-501-4444. “In order to receive these updates from the nearest US embassy, or consulate, you have to register Early on Tuesday, the UAE said that it was working to intercept a major missile attack launched by Iran. With Israel and the United States pounding Iran in a campaign that US President Donald Trump said would likely take several weeks, Tehran and its allies have hit back against Israel, Gulf states, targeting sites critical to the world’s energy production. The intensity of the attacks, the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the lack of any apparent exit plan has set the stage for a prolonged conflict with far-reaching consequences. The Express Global Desk at The Indian Express delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. 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