The US State Department orders exits for non‑emergency staff in six Middle Eastern countries after a sharp escalation in regional attacks linked to ongoing US‑Israeli military operations and Iran’s retaliation.
The US State Department orders exits as the security situation deteriorates across the Gulf, Iraq, and Jordan, prompting embassy closures and emergency warnings.
US State Department orders exits from six countries
The US State Department said Tuesday it had instructed non‑essential staff to leave Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
Updated travel advisories cited an ongoing threat of drone and missile attacks from Iran in five countries while Iraq’s notice referenced broader security concerns.
Regional escalation after killing of Iran’s supreme leader
The confrontation intensified after joint US‑Israeli strikes killed Iran’s supreme leader on Saturday. Tehran responded with widespread ballistic and drone attacks across the Middle East.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards confirmed targeting a US air base in Bahrain according to IRNA.
Internal unrest and security incidents in Iraq
In Baghdad, hundreds of protesters attempted Sunday to enter the fortified Green Zone where the US embassy is located. Many wore black as they marched toward the area that houses government institutions and diplomatic missions.
Iraqi authorities said Tuesday they seized nine rockets and a launchpad in Abu Ghraib. According to Saad Maan, spokesperson for the security media cell, the rockets were already prepared for launch toward Baghdad International Airport.
The airport hosts US military advisors and previously housed coalition forces.
A group calling itself Saraya Awliyaa al‑Dam, part of what it claims is the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, said it was behind earlier drone attacks on the airport.
Increasing threats across Gulf states
The US embassy in Amman announced a temporary staff evacuation on Monday due to unspecified threats.
In Kuwait, the US embassy closed until further notice after smoke was seen rising from the compound following Iranian strikes.
AFP reporters in Qatar heard explosions on Tuesday while in the UAE falling debris from an intercepted drone caused a fire at an oil storage facility.
Saudi Arabia faces attacks on energy infrastructure
The US embassy in Riyadh issued a warning Tuesday about imminent missile and drone attacks over Dhahran home to major energy installations.
Hours earlier two drones struck the US embassy compound in Riyadh causing a small fire as part of Iran’s retaliatory operations across the Gulf.
On Monday the Ras Tanura refinery one of the region’s largest and operated by Aramco partially shut down after a drone strike.
Saudi Arabia the world’s biggest oil exporter has most of its key energy sites concentrated along its eastern coast across the Gulf from Iran.
Why this matters for Iraq
• Escalating regional conflict increases risks of spillover inside Iraq especially in areas hosting US forces.
• Rising attacks could affect Iraq’s economy and foreign missions potentially disrupting travel and trade.
Key developments so far
• Six countries receive US evacuation orders.
• Multiple embassies close or partially evacuate.
• Drone and missile attacks rise across the Gulf.
• Iraq reports foiled rocket attack on Baghdad airport.
Conclusion:
The rising cycle of attacks and counterattacks continues to reshape the security landscape in Iraq and across the wider Gulf region as governments brace for further escalation.
