The US State Department is urging Americans to leave the Middle East as the conflict in Iran widens, plunging the region into deeper military confrontation. The conflict, which began on February 28 after the United States and Israel launched strikes targeting key military and naval sites across Tehran, has now entered its fourth day with no end in sight.
Amid the ongoing conflict, the US has closed its embassies in the Middle East and urged its citizens present in the region to evacuate. On Monday (local time), Americans were urged to “depart immediately” from Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. They were told to leave “using available commercial transportation” due to serious safety risks, CBS News reported.
Read also | ‘Not in a position to evacuate…’: US embassy in Jerusalem amid strikes
Did the Americans stay in the European Championship?
While the US State Department urged people to leave, no action appears to have been taken on their end, leaving thousands of Americans in the region stranded. Earlier today, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee shared a post on his X account advising Americans in Israel to leave and sharing several options available to them. In a lengthy post, Huckabee quickly added that those who want to leave have “very limited” options, adding that “the US Embassy cannot make any recommendations (for or against) the Ministry of Tourism shuttle. The information is provided as a courtesy to those who wish to leave Israel.”
Earlier today, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem posted on X: “The U.S. Embassy is unable to evacuate or directly assist Americans in their departure from Israel at this time. The following information is provided for your information as you make your own security plans.”
A travel advisory shared by the U.S. Embassy in Qatar on March 2 said, “Americans who choose not to fly at this time should prepare contingency plans should the situation deteriorate. These alternate plans should not rely on the U.S. government for assisted departure or evacuation.”
US lawmakers criticize State Department for lack of aid
Following the recommendations and updates shared by the US State Department, several lawmakers have now criticized the administration for not helping Americans in the Middle East enough. Former congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who resigned from Congress after splitting with Trump, said: “American taxpayers are forced to give Israel $3.8 billion every year, and here is our own American embassy in Jerusalem telling Americans good luck getting out, you’re on your own.”
In a post on X, Democratic Senator Andy Kim said: “Warning citizens to evacuate 3 days into this war when the airspace is closed is a clear sign of ZERO strategy and planning by the Trump admin. Now Americans have limited options to evacuate at an extremely dangerous time without government assistance. This administration is failing its citizens,” Kim added.
Read also | Iran War LIVE: Israel will hit Iran, Lebanon harder, Netanyahu says
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy also criticized the government in a post on X. Murphy wrote: “So the State Department is forcing everyone to leave the region immediately, but also refusing to help people leave the region.”
According to a CBS News report, there are believed to be more than a million Americans living in the Middle East who are now left to figure out how to leave.
Americans criticize the US government
Several social media users also expressed their disappointment at the US government allegedly leaving them in the lurch, questioning whether US President Donald Trump’s decision to attack Iran was taken hastily or not.
A user on X wrote: “Trump administration refuses to help AMERICANS get out of Israel. Was this planned so Trump would have a reason to put boots on the ground in Iran after offering Americans to be killed first?”
While another wrote: “Start a war that threatens the safety of over half a million Americans from Jerusalem to Dubai? Then send out a histrionic warning and tell them to ‘LEAVE NOW?’
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed Americans in the Middle East in a video message, saying: “To all American citizens in the Middle East: your safety and security is our number one priority.” But the question remains whether the government will actually do anything to return Americans stranded in the region.
