Middle East Security Alerts
Multiple U.S. embassies issued updated security alerts on March 8 covering Abu Dhabi, Jerusalem, Amman, and Baghdad. Travelers in these regions are urged to exercise heightened caution and enroll in the State Department's STEP program for updates.
These alerts follow a significant escalation of regional conflict that began on February 28, 2026, with a joint U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran. This operation resulted in the deaths of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and other senior officials, prompting swift and widespread retaliation from Tehran. Iran responded by launching a barrage of missile and drone strikes targeting U.S. military assets and civilian infrastructure across the Middle East. Nations impacted include the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Israel, leading to a full-scale regional war. In the days leading up to the March 8 alerts, the region has been on high alert. Explosions were heard in Baghdad on March 7, with sirens activated at the U.S. Embassy compound. Both the UAE and Jordan have reported intercepting hundreds of missiles and drones since the conflict began. The attacks have caused casualties and damage to civilian sites, including ports. In response to the escalating violence, the U.S. State Department has taken significant measures to protect American citizens. On March 3, it ordered non-emergency U.S. government employees and their families to leave the UAE. A broader "DEPART NOW" advisory is in effect for 16 countries in the Middle East. The security alerts coincide with the suspension of all routine consular services at the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai. The U.S. government is coordinating assistance flights for Americans who wish to leave the region, as limited commercial flights and congested land routes present challenges for departure. This conflict marks a dramatic shift from a period of "armed peace" following a previous kinetic escalation between Israel and Iran in 2025. The current hostilities have effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping and severely disrupted air travel, with many international carriers suspending flights.
