U.S. authorities issued an immediate and wide-ranging security warning to all American citizens in Middle Eastern countries — including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Israel — regarding the increased risk of “aggression and regional activity” resulting from the Houthis’ continuing and intensifying attacks.
Official warnings have been published on the websites of U.S. embassies in 11 countries in the region: the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Lebanon, Kuwait, Jordan, Israel, Iraq and Bahrain. Although the general alert level has not changed, the simultaneous release of these messages in these countries indicates deep security concerns over the expanding scope of the military conflicts.
In Beirut, the U.S. Embassy once again urged its citizens not to travel to Lebanon because of regional threats linked to the Houthis; meanwhile, it designated the areas of “Dahiyeh” and “southern Beirut” as “highly dangerous areas” because of the risk of abduction, unexploded ordnance and the possibility of direct armed clashes. Alongside these diplomatic warnings, military developments on the ground have also begun; the NBC news network revealed that Washington has begun withdrawing some of its forces from military bases in Jordan, Qatar and Kuwait.
Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department ordered some of its diplomats and their family members to leave Saudi Arabia. The move came after a series of attacks recently carried out against the country.
