Marco Rubio Urges Americans to Leave These 13 Middle Eastern Countries Immediately Amid Iran Strikes

The U.S. Department of State on March 2 urged American citizens in several Middle Eastern countries to leave immediately amid ongoing Israel–U.S. strikes against Iran.

In a post, Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar urged Americans to “depart now” via available commercial transportation, citing serious and escalating safety risks.

Some users questioned how travel would be possible under the circumstances. “Pick up a newspaper! Americans are trapped in those countries, and flights aren’t leaving. How is this helpful?” one individual said on X.

Americans who need assistance arranging departure via commercial means have been advised to contact the State Department’s 24/7 helpline at +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad) or +1-888-407-4747 (from the U.S. and Canada). Citizens are also encouraged to enrol in the Smart Traveller Enrollment Program (STEP) at step.state.gov to receive the latest security updates from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

The advisory applies to the following countries:

• Bahrain
• Egypt
• Iran
• Iraq
• Israel, the West Bank, Gaza
• Jordan
• Kuwait
• Lebanon
• Oman
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• Syria
• United Arab Emirates
• Yemen

The strikes have caused major disruptions to U.S. embassies and consulates throughout the Middle East. The U.S. embassy in Bahrain remains closed. In Kuwait, Americans were told to stay indoors.

On March 2, the U.S. Embassy in Amman said that, “out of an abundance of caution,” all embassy personnel temporarily departed the compound due to a security threat.

Airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha—including Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest—serve as critical transit hubs linking Europe, Africa, and the West with Asia. According to The Associated Press, all three were directly struck in the air attacks.

In a video message, Marco Rubio said the Department of State’s top priority remains the safety and security of American citizens worldwide.

“With Operation Epic Fury and the cowardly attacks we are seeing from Iran against Gulf countries, I wanted to speak directly to Americans in the Middle East about what we are doing to keep you safe,” Rubio said. “We have activated a 24/7 task force to provide U.S. citizens with up-to-the-minute safety information.”

Rubio encouraged all U.S. citizens overseas to follow the “Security Updates for U.S. Citizens” channel on WhatsApp and to follow @TravelGov on social media.

On February 28, the U.S. and Israel launched a wave of strikes on Iran, killing several senior officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Tehran retaliated with strikes across the region, sharply escalating the conflict.

President Donald Trump said on March 3 that the conflict was initially expected to last four to five weeks but warned it could extend longer depending on developments.