US issues alerts across Middle East, tells Americans to leave Iran

U.S. diplomatic missions in the Middle East simultaneously issued identical alerts about possible threats from Iran and the Houthis. U.S. citizens in the region were urged to exercise heightened vigilance, and those in Iran to leave immediately.

U.S. diplomatic missions in the Middle East simultaneously issued identical security alerts citing possible threats from Iran and the Houthis in Yemen. U.S. citizens in Iran were urged to leave the country immediately.

The Oct. 18 alerts were published by the U.S. embassies in Kuwait, Manama, Amman and Beirut and the mission in the UAE; similar notices were reportedly issued for Israel, Iraq and Qatar. Americans in the region were urged to “exercise heightened vigilance” and prepare for flight cancellations and airspace closures.

The Houthis and Saudi airports

The embassy in Kuwait said Iran-backed Houthis have attacked Saudi Arabia, including civilian airports, causing casualties and severe travel disruptions, and that the hostilities “have the potential to escalate rapidly beyond that immediate area.” The U.S. mission in Saudi Arabia has restricted staff travel to airports, and flights at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh have been halted.

The embassy in Manama warned that Iran and groups supportive of it may target U.S. interests and U.S.-linked sites around the world.

The U.S. Embassy building in Abu Dhabi (file photo)

Amid talk of a new strike

The alerts coincided with talk of a possible new U.S. strike on Iran. According to CNN, the Pentagon has prepared additional options, including the GBU-43/B “mother of all bombs.” Donald Trump has threatened that the United States and its allies will “finish the job” if Tehran does not change course.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran was ready for further escalation: “We have unfinished jobs too.” Iran and Lebanon remain at the highest level of the U.S. advisory scale, “Do Not Travel.”

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