The US State Department on Saturday (August 1, 2026) urged American citizens in the Middle East to exercise caution and be prepared for potential airspace closures and travel disruptions due to escalating tensions in the region.
In a statement carried by Iraq Times Agency, the department said, "Americans outside the Middle East should reconsider travel to the region, and those already there should consider leaving or be prepared to do so in the event of an escalation."
The statement added that "Iran and its proxies may target US interests or Americans around the world."
The US embassies in Baghdad, Amman, and Israel, as well as the consulate in Erbil, had also warned on Saturday that the security environment remained complex, with the potential for unexpected escalation given the rising tensions in the Middle East.
Iran vowed on Saturday to target critical energy infrastructure belonging to Israel and the United States in the region in response to what it described as US threats to target Iranian energy facilities.
Washington urges its citizens in the Middle East to leave and warns of a sudden escalation.
