State Department orders Americans to evacuate Middle East amid conflict with Iran

The State Department sent out a region-wide evacuation order Monday for all Americans currently in the Middle East to leave their respective countries after the United States and Israel launched missiles at Iran over the weekend.

"[Secretary of State Marco Rubio] urges Americans to DEPART NOW from the countries below using available commercial transportation, due to serious safety risks," Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar wrote on X. "Americans who need State Department assistance arranging to depart via commercial means, CALL US 24/7 at +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad) and +1-888-407-4747 (from the U.S. and Canada)." 

The order impacts Americans in Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

Several Middle Eastern countries have been pulled into the conflict, including Lebanon, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The Iran-backed terrorist organization Hezbollah notably attacked Israel over the weekend in retaliation for the strikes on Iran, and Iraqi officials threatened to strike U.S. bases in Jordan. 

Qatar said Monday that it has shot down two Iranian aircraft, and intercepted seven ballistic missiles and five drones.