By Rabia Iclal Turan
WASHINGTON (AA) – The US State Department urged American citizens to depart from several countries and regions across the Middle East, citing “serious safety risks.”
In a security update released Monday, the department listed Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the occupied West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen as the locations affected.
In a post on the US social media company X’s platform, Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar urged Americans to “DEPART NOW” from the places listed using available commercial transportation.
Since Saturday morning, Israel and the US have carried out strikes on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and many top security officials.
Iran in response launched drone and missile attacks on Israel and US assets in the region, prompting many Gulf states to shut their airspace.
Earlier, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that six US service members have been killed so far on day three of the US-Israeli joint attacks.