The United States Department of State has directed all American personnel and citizens in several Middle Eastern countries to shelter in place following joint U.S.-Israel strikes on Iranian targets that reportedly caused explosions and plumes of smoke in Tehran on Saturday.
The advisory affects Americans in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan, and Israel, among other locations, with U.S. embassies urging citizens to remain indoors until further notice.
In a statement posted on X, the U.S. Embassy Jerusalem warned that Israel had closed its airspace to civilian flights, with all commercial departures from Ben Gurion Airport cancelled.
“The security situation is volatile,” the embassy stated, cautioning that mortars, rockets, missile fire, and drone intrusions can occur without warning. Americans were urged to seek the nearest bomb shelter, monitor local media, avoid demonstrations, and comply with instructions from local authorities.
In the UAE, the U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi and the U.S. Consulate in Dubai described the crisis as “regional hostilities,” instructing Americans to stock essential supplies, maintain communication with family members, and avoid large gatherings. Citizens were also advised to enrol in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) for real-time updates.
The U.S. Embassy Doha confirmed it had implemented a shelter-in-place directive for all personnel, recommending that private citizens follow suit and remain vigilant. Similar advisories were issued by the U.S. Embassy Manama and the U.S. Embassy Amman, with emergency contact lines provided for immediate assistance.
The advisories followed a major military operation against Iranian targets, which U.S. President Donald Trump described as necessary to neutralise “imminent threats” linked to Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes.
Speaking in a video message, Trump declared: “The United States’ military began major combat operations in Iran. We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground.”
Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz characterised the strikes as a “preventive action.”
Meanwhile, Iranian state television reported that President Masoud Pezeshkian was “safe and sound,” while the Fars News Agency confirmed multiple missile impacts in Tehran’s Keshvardoost and Pasteur districts.
The State Department stressed that the security environment across the region remains fluid and unpredictable. Americans were advised to regularly monitor official updates, identify nearby shelters, and prepare contingency plans as developments unfold.
“Safety and vigilance are paramount,” the agency stated, urging citizens to take immediate precautions until further notice.
