US State Department flights planned for Americans leaving Middle East amid embassy attacks

The US State Department says it is preparing military and charter flights for Americans seeking to leave the Middle East as embassy security incidents and closures widen. Non-emergency staff and families are being evacuated from several countries, while US citizens are urged to depart amid airspace disruption and continuing strikes.

The US State Department on Tuesday said it was preparing military and charter flights. The flights were for Americans seeking to leave the Middle East. Other countries also arranged evacuation flights for their own citizens. Many people remained stuck, as much of the region’s airspace was closed.

US embassies in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Lebanon said they were closed. The closures applied to public services at the missions. The State Department also ordered some staff and families to leave. The order covered non-emergency personnel and family in Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.

US State Department evacuation flights for Americans

Along with the departures it arranged, the US also urged citizens to leave. The guidance covered more than a dozen Middle Eastern countries. Travel options were limited due to airspace restrictions. As a result, some Americans could not depart despite the advice.

US State Department evacuation flights and embassy attacks

Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry said two drones hit the US Embassy in Riyadh. The ministry said the incident caused a limited fire. The embassy urged Americans to avoid the compound. The strike followed an earlier attack on the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait.

US State Department evacuation flights amid regional casualties

US-Israeli strikes killed at least 787 people, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society. Hezbollah, backed by Iran, also attacked Israel. Israel’s retaliatory strikes killed 52 people in Lebanon. The US military confirmed six deaths of American service members.

Separate deaths were also reported in Gulf countries during the unrest. Three people were killed in the United Arab Emirates. One person was killed in Kuwait, and one in Bahrain. The evacuation planning came as embassies limited operations and as countries worked to move citizens out.

With inputs from PTI