U.S. embassies urge citizens to ‘consider departing’ from West Asia

U.S. embassies in several West Asia countries’ capitals warned American citizens to beware of an “unforeseen escalation” in the regional conflict and urged them to be ready to leave.

“Americans in the region should consider departing, or be prepared to depart should there be escalation,” said a security alert, versions of which were posted on social media by the U.S. missions in Amman, Jerusalem, Muscat, Baghdad and Beirut.

Also read: West Asia war updates on August 1, 2026

The messages urged citizens to check flight details and to follow safety advice from local authorities.

“Americans currently in the Middle East should exercise caution and heightened vigilance and should be prepared for flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and potential travel disruptions,” it said.

Americans in Jordan were told not to visit U.S. military bases there, which have recently come under Iranian missile attack, and in Israel they were urged to seek the location of the nearest bomb shelter.

“The Iranian regime is unpredictable, as seen by its recent decisions to attack areas in the region without warning or provocations as well as to expand attacks to areas not previously targeted (such as Egypt),” said a post on the U.S. Embassy Jerusalem site.

The U.S. embassy in Beirut said that the mission remained on “ordered departure status”, meaning that non-emergency U.S. government personnel were still relocated outside of Lebanon.

On Wednesday (July 29, 2026), a drone struck a U.S.-owned gas vessel moored in an Egyptian port, causing a fire. Egypt is investigating but has not yet accused any group of launching the attack.

Iran’s military, meanwhile, has accused Washington of “escalating tensions” in the region and warned, “Any country serving as a defensive shield for criminal and aggressive America will be engulfed by the flames of war.”

This week, Iran and the U.S. resumed overnight exchanges of fire after a days-long lull in fighting, although there were no reported strikes overnight from Friday to Saturday.

The West Asia war broke out on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, which has retaliated with missile and drone strikes across the region.