The United States Department of State has rolled out emergency security measures across parts of the Middle East and South Asia, temporarily shutting down diplomatic missions and suspending consular services as tensions tied to the Iran conflict intensify.
In Kuwait, the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait announced it would halt operations “until further notice,” citing mounting instability.
Both routine and emergency consular appointments have been cancelled, with officials promising updates once conditions improve.
The shutdown follows a string of deadly incidents in Kuwait, including the reported deaths of six American troops and the crash of three U.S. fighter jets in what the military described as an apparent “friendly fire” episode.
The developments have raised fresh concerns over the safety of U.S. personnel and citizens in the Gulf nation.
In neighbouring Iraq, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad ordered nonessential government staff to leave the country amid escalating threats.
American personnel were also barred from using Baghdad International Airport, and the travel advisory for Iraq has been revised to reflect the deteriorating security landscape.
State Department official Mora Namdar earlier urged Americans in more than a dozen countries to depart immediately using commercial flights due to what she described as “serious safety risks.”
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The advisory spans 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 suspended all routine and emergency services at its missions in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dhahran.
In a statement posted on X, the embassy confirmed that a “shelter in place” directive had been activated after what it described as an attack on its compound, urging American citizens to maintain personal safety plans and avoid embassy facilities.
Further east, the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad paused all visa appointments at its main office and at consulates in Lahore and Karachi, pointing to the “current security situation.” The suspension is expected to last until Friday, March 6.
The move came after unrest in Karachi left at least 10 people dead when security forces reportedly opened fire on protesters attempting to storm the U.S. consulate.
The demonstrations were triggered by the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in joint U.S.-Israeli strikes, an event that has sharply escalated tensions across the region.
U.S. officials have yet to indicate when full diplomatic operations will resume, stressing that ongoing security assessments will determine the next steps as the volatile situation continues to unfold.