US closes several Middle East embassies as it urges Americans to flee

[struggle4progress]

By Gregory Svirnovskiy, Nahal Toosi and Oriana Pawlyk
03/03/2026 09:31 AM EST
Updated: 03/03/2026 04:16 PM EST

U.S. embassies in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Kuwait on Tuesday announced they are closing indefinitely and a senior State Department official exhorted Americans to leave the Middle East immediately, amid continued fallout from the U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran.

The State Department “urges Americans to DEPART NOW” from countries including Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, the UAE and Qatar “using available commercial transportation, due to serious safety risks,” Assistant Secretary of State Mora Namdar wrote in a post on X ...

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/03/us-embassies-middle-east-iran-00808416

[struggle4progress]

1. Multiple US embassies told Americans they could not evacuate or help them get out

By Polly Thompson, Bryan Metzger, Kelsey Vlamis, and Matthew Loh

The US State Department has advised Americans to leave some countries in the Middle East.

The US embassies in Jerusalem and Qatar have said they are unable to help citizens evacuate.

Conflict is escalating in the region after the US and Israel struck Iran ...

https://www.businessinsider.com/us-embassies-say-they-cannot-evacuate-americans-middle-east-iran2026-3

[markodochartaigh]

2. Several of those countries don't even have a current US ambassador.

https://www.cjfp.org/americas-empty-chairs-how-unfilled-ambassadorships-threaten-u-s-global-leadership/

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Where's "Huck"?

[Renew Deal]

4. Egypt?

Are they worried about missile attacks on Egypt? Or something on the ground?

[sarisataka]

8. Cairo is within range

Of Iranian missiles

[sinkingfeeling]

5. Why? I thought he told the UK the war was over.

[Baitball Blogger]

6. Oh, yeah. We're in control.

[Doodley]

7. When Americans need an embassy the most.

[Johonny]

9. Sounds like the war is over and we won

And to think I was worried about a forever war...