US Shuts Mideast Embassies as Iran War Widens
The U.S. has evacuated and shuttered several Middle East embassies as its conflict with Iran enters its fourth day. The military campaign, dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” is being described as an “unprecedented” air assault, though the administration's stated objectives for the war keep shifting. Meanwhile, Senator Marco Rubio warned that for Iran, the “hardest hits are yet to come.”
The U.S. has ordered the evacuation of non-emergency personnel from embassies in at least six Middle Eastern countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, and Jordan. Embassies in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have been closed entirely following Iranian drone strikes. In Israel, the U.S. embassy has stated it cannot directly assist Americans trying to leave the country. "Operation Epic Fury" involves a wide array of U.S. military assets, including B-2 stealth bombers, F-35 and F-22 fighter jets, and nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. In the first 48 hours, U.S. Central Command reported striking over 1,250 targets within Iran, including Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command centers and Iranian naval vessels. For the first time, the U.S. has also deployed low-cost, one-way attack drones modeled after Iranian designs. The joint U.S.-Israeli operation has resulted in the death of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In response, Iran has launched retaliatory missile and drone strikes against U.S. military bases in the region and at civilian and economic targets in allied Arab states, including the UAE and Bahrain. The stated goal of the operation has been described as inducing regime change and addressing concerns about Iran's nuclear program. President Trump called on the Iranian people to "seize control of your destiny" and overthrow the government. This follows a breakdown in diplomatic talks just days before the military action began. Domestically, the operation has been launched without Congressional approval, prompting some lawmakers, like Senator Tim Kaine, to push for a War Powers Resolution to reassert legislative authority. The move has also drawn mixed reactions internationally, with Australia and Canada expressing support, while Russia and China have been critical. European allies and Gulf states have condemned Iran's retaliatory strikes. The United States and Iran have not had formal diplomatic relations since April 7, 1980, following the Iran hostage crisis. Relations began to sour after a 1953 coup, organized by the CIA and MI6, overthrew Iran's democratically elected Prime Minister. The U.S. had previously supported Iran's nuclear program, providing its first reactor under the "Atoms for Peace" initiative in 1957.
