The US has shut down embassies in both Saudi Arabia and Kuwait after drone attacks from Iran prompted their closure. These attacks come as Iran has been retaliating against the US and Israel's ongoing attack on the nation.
The US State Department released security updates for Americans in the Middle East, urging citizens to "depart now via commercial means due to serious safety risks." The nations the State Department urged Americans to leave are Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
These are all nations that are within the line of fire from Iranian weapons as the US and Israel continue their bombardment of the oil-rich nation. Operation Epic Fury, as it is called by the Trump administration, began on Saturday. Ahead of the first bombs being dropped, there were many indicators that an attack was coming, including that Americans were urged by State to leave the area while commercial means were still available. The UK is working to retrieve thousands of their citizens from the region.
On February 28, just one day ahead of the scheduled Operation Epic Fury attacks, the US State Department issued a worldwide alert to American citizens. "Following the launch of U.S. combat operations in Iran, Americans worldwide and especially in the Middle East should follow the guidance in the latest security alerts issued by the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. They may experience travel disruptions due to periodic airspace closures. The Department of State advises Americans worldwide to exercise increased caution."
After an Iranian drone strike hit the US Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, sending smoke and fire rising from the compound, the Embassy put out a security alert due to the threat of imminent missile attacks. "There is a threat of imminent missile and UAV attacks over Dhahran. Do not come to the U.S. Consulate," the Embassy posted to social media.
Two strikes hit the Riyadh facility on Monday, but no injuries were reported because the embassy was mostly empty at the time of the attack. Following the strike, Americans in multiple cities across Saudi Arabia were instructed to shelter in place.
The notification from the Embassy stated further: "Take cover immediately in your residence on the lowest available floor and away from windows. Do not go outside. The U.S. Consulate in Dhahran urges U.S. citizens in Dhahran to shelter in place, review security plans in the event of an attack, and to stay alert in case of additional future attacks. U.S. Consulate personnel are sheltering in place."
The embassy strike comes as the conflict between the United States and Iran intensifies across the region. US Central Command said Monday that US forces destroyed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command-and-control facilities, Iranian air defense assets, missile and drone launch sites, and military airfields. In a post on X, CENTCOM said it would “continue to take decisive action against imminent threats posed by the Iranian regime.”
According to Fox News, maritime intelligence firm Windward AI reported that Iran has been conducting “indiscriminate” targeting of vessels across the Gulf of Oman and the wider Persian Gulf following US-Israeli strikes under Operation Epic Fury. Windward characterized Iran’s apparent approach as “indiscriminate area denial” aimed at signaling its ability to disrupt the Strait and deter commercial shipping rather than conducting precision attacks.
Iran has also been retaliating with missiles and drones aimed at US and allied positions across the region, including in Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.
On Monday, US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz argued that Iran was dangerously close to nuclear weapons capability before recent US strikes. In an appearance on Fox News, Waltz told host Laura Ingraham that Iran was hiding highly enriched uranium and could have moved from 60 percent enrichment to weapons-grade levels within “weeks, a month at the most.” He also claimed Iran was expanding missile production, including developing longer-range capabilities.
Waltz said previous US military action last year during Operation Midnight Hammer had “obliterated their enrichment capability,” while warning that Tehran had concealed significant quantities of highly enriched uranium.
The US State Department released security updates for Americans in the Middle East, urging citizens to "depart now via commercial means due to serious safety risks." The nations the State Department urged Americans to leave are Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
These are all nations that are within the line of fire from Iranian weapons as the US and Israel continue their bombardment of the oil-rich nation. Operation Epic Fury, as it is called by the Trump administration, began on Saturday. Ahead of the first bombs being dropped, there were many indicators that an attack was coming, including that Americans were urged by State to leave the area while commercial means were still available. The UK is working to retrieve thousands of their citizens from the region.
On February 28, just one day ahead of the scheduled Operation Epic Fury attacks, the US State Department issued a worldwide alert to American citizens. "Following the launch of U.S. combat operations in Iran, Americans worldwide and especially in the Middle East should follow the guidance in the latest security alerts issued by the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. They may experience travel disruptions due to periodic airspace closures. The Department of State advises Americans worldwide to exercise increased caution."
After an Iranian drone strike hit the US Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, sending smoke and fire rising from the compound, the Embassy put out a security alert due to the threat of imminent missile attacks. "There is a threat of imminent missile and UAV attacks over Dhahran. Do not come to the U.S. Consulate," the Embassy posted to social media.
Two strikes hit the Riyadh facility on Monday, but no injuries were reported because the embassy was mostly empty at the time of the attack. Following the strike, Americans in multiple cities across Saudi Arabia were instructed to shelter in place.
The notification from the Embassy stated further: "Take cover immediately in your residence on the lowest available floor and away from windows. Do not go outside. The U.S. Consulate in Dhahran urges U.S. citizens in Dhahran to shelter in place, review security plans in the event of an attack, and to stay alert in case of additional future attacks. U.S. Consulate personnel are sheltering in place."
The embassy strike comes as the conflict between the United States and Iran intensifies across the region. US Central Command said Monday that US forces destroyed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command-and-control facilities, Iranian air defense assets, missile and drone launch sites, and military airfields. In a post on X, CENTCOM said it would “continue to take decisive action against imminent threats posed by the Iranian regime.”
According to Fox News, maritime intelligence firm Windward AI reported that Iran has been conducting “indiscriminate” targeting of vessels across the Gulf of Oman and the wider Persian Gulf following US-Israeli strikes under Operation Epic Fury. Windward characterized Iran’s apparent approach as “indiscriminate area denial” aimed at signaling its ability to disrupt the Strait and deter commercial shipping rather than conducting precision attacks.
Iran has also been retaliating with missiles and drones aimed at US and allied positions across the region, including in Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.
On Monday, US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz argued that Iran was dangerously close to nuclear weapons capability before recent US strikes. In an appearance on Fox News, Waltz told host Laura Ingraham that Iran was hiding highly enriched uranium and could have moved from 60 percent enrichment to weapons-grade levels within “weeks, a month at the most.” He also claimed Iran was expanding missile production, including developing longer-range capabilities.
Waltz said previous US military action last year during Operation Midnight Hammer had “obliterated their enrichment capability,” while warning that Tehran had concealed significant quantities of highly enriched uranium.
