The region has witnessed a dangerous security escalation, leading to the temporary closure of US embassies in Riyadh and Kuwait and the suspension of all consular services. This step comes amidst an increase in attacks targeting American interests, prompting Washington to issue instructions for its non-essential staff to leave several Arab countries for their safety.
The US Embassy in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, announced that the mission's premises would remain closed, with all pre-scheduled appointments for American citizens canceled until further notice. The embassy warned its citizens to stay away from the vicinity of the building, urging them to exercise extreme caution and vigilance given the current circumstances.
In Kuwait, field sources observed smoke rising from the US Embassy premises following a series of attacks attributed to Iranian entities. Consequently, the diplomatic mission decided to halt all emergency and routine consular operations, stating that the closure would continue until the security situation is fully assessed.
In Jerusalem, the US Embassy acknowledged the difficulty of providing direct assistance or evacuation operations for American citizens currently in Israel. This announcement reflects the magnitude of logistical and security challenges facing American diplomacy amidst the widening scope of military confrontations.
On the ground, diplomatic sources in Riyadh confirmed that the embassy building was attacked by two drones, resulting in a limited fire. The Saudi Ministry of Defense clarified that the attack caused minor material damage, while American citizens were advised to stay in their homes in the cities of Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dhahran.
Politically, US President Donald Trump entered the crisis, vowing an imminent military response to the targeting of his country's diplomatic facilities. Concurrently with these threats, the US State Department issued evacuation orders for the families of diplomats and non-essential staff in Bahrain, Jordan, and Iraq.
These developments come after an explicit call from Washington for its citizens to immediately leave 15 countries due to imminent threats. This wave of attacks is linked to the Iranian response to US-Israeli military operations that targeted Iranian territory and led to the assassination of prominent leadership figures.
In Manama, the US Embassy announced the indefinite continuation of its closure with serious warnings of potential targeting of major hotels in the Bahraini capital. Diplomatic missions are in a state of maximum alert in anticipation of any sudden attacks that may affect staff or citizens.
The US Embassy in the Jordanian capital, Amman, also decided to evacuate its premises of all staff as an immediate precautionary measure. This decision was made to deal with security threats described as serious, at a time when the region is experiencing a state of turmoil and anticipation for the results of the mutual escalation between Washington and Tehran.
Since the beginning of March, the scope of the suspension of US diplomatic services has expanded to include Qatar, the UAE, Lebanon, and Syria, in addition to Israel. These comprehensive measures reflect the extent of American concerns about its missions being subjected to missile or suicide drone attacks, which now threaten the stability of the region.
The US mission in Saudi Arabia is closed today, with all American citizen appointments, whether routine or emergency, canceled.
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Widespread Regional Escalation: Attacks Target Washington Embassies and Diplomatic Missions Close in Several Arab Countries