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OPEN CHRONICLE | “The Truth in Every Detail”
By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. State Department has issued an urgent directive for all American citizens to depart more than a dozen countries in the Middle East immediately. The sweeping travel advisory comes as the military confrontation between the U.S.-Israeli coalition and Iran enters a perilous new phase, threatening the safety of civilians across the entire region.
Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar released the “DEPART NOW” order via social media on Monday, citing “serious safety risks” as combat operations continue. The advisory covers nearly every major nation in the region, including Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen, as well as Iran and the Palestinian territories.
Logistical Chaos as Airspace Closes: The mandate to leave “using available commercial transportation” is proving increasingly difficult to follow. In the days following the launch of “Operation Epic Fury,” much of the Middle East’s airspace has been shuttered to commercial traffic. According to data from FlightAware, thousands of flights have been canceled, leaving travelers stranded in major hubs.
Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest aviation centers, only began resuming limited flights on Monday. The facility had been largely paralyzed following a deadly Iranian retaliatory strike on Saturday.
Embassy Evacuations and Shelter-in-Place Orders: The alarm in Washington was further underscored by dramatic shifts at regional diplomatic posts. On Monday, the U.S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan, was completely evacuated following an unspecified but credible threat. Meanwhile, in Baghdad, the U.S. Embassy instructed all Americans remaining in Iraq to “shelter in place” until further notice, suggesting that travel to the airport may currently be too dangerous.
24/7 Crisis Response: In response to the escalating emergency, the State Department has established a 24-hour task force to assist with consular services and evacuations. A dedicated WhatsApp channel has also been launched, already serving over 15,000 subscribers with real-time security updates.
Officials are urging all Americans still in the region to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to maintain a direct line of communication with the nearest embassy as the window for safe departure narrows.