Embassies Affected and Closed Among the confirmed closures over the past 48 hours:

U.S. Embassy in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia): Closed following a confirmed attack by two Iranian drones overnight from March 2 to 3, causing limited fire and minor damage. The embassy canceled all consular appointments and advised U.S. citizens to avoid the site. U.S. Embassy in Kuwait: Closed “until further notice” after a drone and missile attack on Monday evening. The embassy’s official X account posted a clear message: “Due to ongoing regional tensions, the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait will be closed until further notice.” U.S. Embassy in Beirut (Lebanon): Closed to the public “until further notice” due to “persistent regional tensions,” as Lebanon faces intense Israeli strikes against Hezbollah. Other diplomatic sites have been targeted or threatened: a drone struck near the U.S. Consulate in Dubai (United Arab Emirates), and alerts have been issued for facilities in Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, and Iraq.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio described these attacks as proof that “the Iranian terrorist regime is directly targeting American interests,” justifying the shift to “maximum emergency mode.” Evacuations and Unprecedented Warnings Alongside the closures, the Department of State has:

Ordered the immediate departure of non-essential personnel and their families in at least six Gulf countries (Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates). Issued an urgent warning for U.S. citizens in 14 countries in the region: Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, West Bank/Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. The message is unambiguous: “DEPART NOW” using available commercial means, despite closed airspace and massive flight cancellations. Publicly acknowledged that embassies are no longer able to organize or directly assist with evacuations in several countries, including Israel, where the Jerusalem embassy stated: “We are not in a position to evacuate or directly assist Americans in leaving Israel.”

Hundreds of thousands of Americans (estimates range from 500,000 to 1 million) live or travel in the region. Many are reporting on social media that they are stranded, with embassies unreachable and emergency lines overwhelmed. Consequences and Context These closures come as U.S. and Israeli strikes continue deep inside Iran, targeting nuclear facilities, ballistic missiles, and Revolutionary Guard command centers. In retaliation, Tehran has expanded its attacks to U.S. allied targets in the Gulf, disrupting oil traffic (Strait of Hormuz partially blocked at times) and causing crude oil prices to surge. President Donald Trump defended the strategy: “We are striking hard and fast to destroy their capabilities before they become invincible.” However, voices in Congress (particularly Democrats) are criticizing the lack of formal authorization and apparent lack of preparation to protect American civilians. For now, no reopening has been announced. The Department of State promises regular updates, but the priority remains the safety of diplomatic personnel and the continuation of military operations. The situation remains extremely volatile. French, Canadian, and European citizens are receiving similar instructions from their own governments, with partial evacuations underway (for example, charter flights from Turkey in some cases). If you have loved ones in the region or need specific information about a country, check official embassy websites or your government’s travel alerts. The situation is evolving very rapidly.