US Shuts Down Embassies, Suspends Consular Services Across Middle-East Amid Iranian War
US Shuts Down Embassies, Suspends Consular Services Across Middle-East Amid Iranian War
The incidents have heightened concerns about the safety of diplomatic staff and American citizens in the Gulf state.
The United States Department of State has announced sweeping security measures across several Middle Eastern and South Asian missions, temporarily shutting down embassies and suspending consular services amid escalating regional tensions from the Iran conflict.
In Kuwait, the U.S. Embassy confirmed it would cease operations “until further notice,” citing ongoing instability in the region.
The diplomatic mission said all routine and emergency consular appointments had been canceled and that updates would be provided once normal services resume, according to Al Jazeera.
The move comes after a series of deadly incidents in Kuwait, including the deaths of six American troops and the crash of three U.S. fighter jets in what the U.S. military described as an “apparent friendly fire” episode.
The incidents have heightened concerns about the safety of diplomatic staff and American citizens in the Gulf state.
In neighbouring Iraq, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad ordered nonemergency government employees to leave the country due to security concerns.
The mission also barred American personnel from using Baghdad’s international airport, pointing to unspecified threats.
The travel advisory for Iraq has been updated to reflect the deteriorating situation.
State Department official Mora Namdar earlier urged American citizens in more than a dozen countries to depart immediately using available commercial flights “due to serious safety risks.”
The advisory covers 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.
In Saudi Arabia, the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh announced the suspension of all routine and emergency services across its missions in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dhahran.
In a statement posted on X, the embassy said a “shelter in place” order had been implemented and advised Americans to avoid embassy facilities following what it described as an attack on the compound.
“We advise all U.S. citizens to maintain a personal safety plan,” the embassy said.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad halted all visa appointments at its main mission and at consulates in Lahore and Karachi, citing the “current security situation.”
The suspension is expected to remain in effect until Friday, March 6.
The decision followed unrest in Karachi, where at least 10 people were reported killed after security forces opened fire on protesters attempting to storm the U.S. consulate.
The demonstrations erupted after the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in joint U.S.-Israeli strikes, further inflaming tensions across the region.
US officials have not indicated when normal diplomatic operations would resume, but said security assessments are ongoing as the situation continues to evolve.
