2 hours ago
Last Updated:March 03, 2026, 19:38 IST
The closures affect Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
The US embassy headquarters in Riyadh is pictured on March 3, 2026, after it was hit by drone strikes. (AFP photo)
Following weekend US-Israeli strikes on Iran, several American embassies and consulates across the Middle East have either temporarily closed or shifted to emergency-only services, as Iran launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks.
The closures affect Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with non-emergency staff ordered to leave and citizens urged to follow safety precautions.
The conflict began on Saturday when joint US-Israeli strikes killed Iran’s supreme leader, prompting Tehran to retaliate across the region.
Bahrain: The US Embassy in Manama remained closed on March 3, following a strike on the Crowne Plaza Hotel. All regular and emergency consular appointments were cancelled. Americans were advised to avoid hotels and follow shelter-in-place guidance.
Kuwait: The embassy closed on March 3 until further notice, a day after smoke was seen rising from the mission following Iranian attacks. All consular services, including emergency appointments, were suspended.
Jordan: On Monday, the US Embassy in Amman temporarily evacuated staff due to an unspecified threat. Officials stated, “Out of an abundance of caution, all personnel … have temporarily departed the embassy compound due to a threat."
Saudi Arabia: The US Mission in Riyadh closed on March 3, cancelling all routine and emergency American Citizen Services appointments. Officials confirmed a shelter-in-place advisory in Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dhahran, urging citizens to maintain a personal safety plan and avoid the embassy.
Lebanon: The US Embassy in Beirut confirmed it would shut on March 3. Non-emergency staff were ordered to leave last Monday.
Qatar and UAE: US missions in Doha and Abu Dhabi were operating on emergency-only services. Falling debris from an intercepted drone caused a minor fire at an oil storage zone in the UAE, while explosions were reported in Qatar.
Meanwhile, in Israel, the embassy stated it is “not in a position at this time to evacuate or directly assist Americans in departing Israel."
(With inputs from agencies)
First Published:
March 03, 2026, 19:35 IST
News world Kuwait To Saudi Arabia: Iran's Retaliatory Strikes Force US To Close Embassies In Middle East
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Read More
