URGENT UPDATE: The U.S. Embassy in Jordan has issued a shelter-in-place order for all Americans following escalating tensions in the region. This announcement comes less than a week after the U.S. and Israel targeted Iran, resulting in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini.
In a warning released on Wednesday, the embassy urged all Mission personnel and U.S. citizens to stay indoors as safety concerns mount. The embassy confirmed, “The embassy has instructed all Mission personnel to shelter-in-place. We recommend all Americans do the same.” The alert also noted that Jordanian airspace, previously closed from 6 p.m. until 9 a.m., has been reopened.
The situation is dire as Iranian forces have already targeted U.S. embassies and consulates in neighboring Gulf countries. A drone attack struck the parking lot of the U.S. consulate in Dubai on Tuesday, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirming that “all personnel are accounted for.” However, he labeled the threats as “direct,” emphasizing that “our embassies and our diplomatic facilities are under direct attack from a terroristic regime.”
Further escalating the situation, two Iranian drones targeted the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Monday. Saudi officials reported a “limited fire” that resulted in “minor material damage” to the embassy.
Iran’s aggression extends beyond embassies; the country has also launched drone strikes on Amazon Web Services facilities in Bahrain and the UAE. AWS reported that these attacks caused significant structural damage and disrupted power delivery to their infrastructure.
The conflict intensified following the U.S. and Israel’s strikes on February 28, which killed at least 165 people, most of whom were young girls. Iranian authorities reported that another 95 individuals were injured in the attacks, which included the destruction of a school.
In response to the rising dangers, the U.S. Department of State has urged Americans to leave over a dozen Middle Eastern countries, including Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. Recent data from Flight Aware reveals that Middle Eastern airports are experiencing a surge in flight cancellations, with over 70% of flights from Doha, Dubai, and Bahrain canceled on Tuesday.
As tensions continue to rise, the international community watches closely. The urgency of the situation cannot be understated, as the safety of American citizens and diplomatic personnel hangs in the balance. This is a developing story, and further updates are expected as the situation unfolds.
Stay connected for the latest developments as authorities navigate this escalating crisis.
