U.S. Issues 'Depart Now' Order for Americans Across 14 Middle Eastern Nations as Regional Conflict Escalates
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. State Department issued an urgent worldwide alert on Monday, ordering American citizens in 14 Middle Eastern countries to depart immediately via commercial means, as escalating military hostilities between the U.S., Israel, and Iran plunge the region into crisis.
The directive, posted on social media platform X by Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar, explicitly states "DEPART NOW" and lists Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
The warning follows the dramatic announcement by former President Donald Trump on Saturday that U.S. forces, in coordination with Israel, had executed "Operation Epic Fury"—a series of strikes targeting Iranian leadership. Iranian state media reported the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the attacks.
In response, Iran launched waves of drone and missile strikes across the region over the past 48 hours, targeting U.S. diplomatic and military facilities in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE, as well as launching ballistic missiles toward Israel. According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), six American service members have been killed and 18 seriously wounded in the attacks so far.
The situation has created a logistical nightmare for travelers. Regional airspace has been largely shut down, stranding thousands of air passengers. Meanwhile, reports from cruise industry monitors indicate at least six cruise ships operated by four major companies are trapped in the Persian Gulf, unable to transit the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz after Iran vowed to block all maritime passage.
Casualty figures continue to rise. The Iranian Red Crescent Society reports at least 555 fatalities within Iran, while Israeli and Lebanese authorities confirm 11 and 31 deaths respectively.
In a video statement released Sunday, former President Trump honored the fallen U.S. troops but vowed a continued forceful response. "America will avenge their deaths and deliver the most punishing blow to the terrorists who have waged war against, basically, civilization," he said.
The rapid escalation marks one of the most direct and widespread confrontations between the U.S. and Iran in decades, risking a broader regional war and creating immediate peril for civilians and military personnel alike.
Reaction & Analysis
We spoke to several observers for their immediate take on the crisis:
David Chen, former diplomat and senior fellow at the Atlantic Council: "This 'DEPART NOW' order is unprecedented in its scope for the region. It signals that the U.S. assesses the threat environment as highly volatile and unpredictable, with a real risk of further escalation against diplomatic and civilian targets. The closure of airspace and maritime chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz compounds the crisis, creating a dual military and humanitarian challenge."
Sarah Jenkins, crisis response coordinator with the International Rescue Committee: "Our teams are hearing from desperate families separated by this chaos. The immediate priority is establishing safe corridors for civilian evacuation and ensuring humanitarian access. The casualty numbers from Iran are staggering and likely undercounted. This is a rapidly developing human catastrophe."
Marcus Thorne, political commentator and host of the 'Clear Eye' podcast: [Emotionally charged] "This is a catastrophic failure of deterrence and diplomacy. 'Operation Epic Fury' wasn't just a strike; it was a decapitation that invited the whirlwind we're now seeing. The administration has recklessly ignited a regional war, stranded its own citizens, and gotten American troops killed—all while the President uses language straight out of a revenge thriller. Who's the adult in the room?"
Dr. Anya Sharma, professor of Middle Eastern Studies at Georgetown University: "The targeting of the Supreme Leader is a profound escalation that crosses a red line Iran has long stated. Their retaliatory strikes, while broad, appear calibrated to demonstrate capability and inflict cost without, so far, triggering an all-out war. The next 72 hours are critical. The region hasn't seen confrontation at this level since the Iraq War, and the potential for miscalculation is extremely high."