Smoke rises following an Israeli controlled-explosion on the village of Kfartibnit as seen from Nabatieh in southern Lebanon on July 29, 2026.(Photo by Ammar Ammar / AFP) /
US embassies across several Middle Eastern countries have advised American citizens to consider leaving the region or be prepared to do so amid fears of a possible escalation in the ongoing conflict.
Security alerts issued by US diplomatic missions in Amman, Jerusalem and Baghdad warned of the risk of an “unforeseen escalation” and urged Americans to remain vigilant.
“Americans in the region should consider departing, or be prepared to depart should there be escalation,” the advisory stated.
The embassies also urged citizens to monitor available commercial flights, stay updated on travel information, and follow instructions from local authorities, warning that any escalation could result in flight cancellations, temporary airspace closures and other travel disruptions.
In Jordan, US citizens were specifically advised to avoid American military bases following recent Iranian missile attacks in the country. In Israel, the embassy urged Americans to identify the nearest bomb shelter and remain alert to security developments.
The US Embassy in Jerusalem described Iran as “unpredictable,” citing what it said were recent attacks carried out without warning and the expansion of strikes into areas previously unaffected, including Egypt.
The warning comes after a drone struck a US-owned gas vessel docked at an Egyptian port on Wednesday, triggering a fire. Egyptian authorities have launched an investigation but have not identified those responsible for the attack.
Meanwhile, Iran’s military accused the United States of fuelling tensions across the region, warning that any country acting as a “defensive shield” for Washington would be “engulfed by the flames of war.”
Although Iran and the United States resumed overnight exchanges of fire earlier this week following a brief lull, no new strikes were reported between Friday night and Saturday.
The latest developments come amid the wider Middle East conflict, which began on February 28 after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran. Tehran has since responded with missile and drone attacks targeting locations across the region.
