'Be prepared to depart.' That is the message the United States has issued to its citizens across the Middle East as fears mount over a fresh escalation in the region and reports suggest President Donald Trump could authorise another round of military strikes on Iran.

In a security advisory released on Saturday, the US State Department warned that Americans should remain vigilant, anticipate travel disruptions and be prepared to leave the region if the security situation deteriorates further.

The advisory comes as Washington believes Iran and groups aligned with Tehran could target US interests beyond the Middle East.

The warning was circulated by US embassies across Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, citing the possibility of 'unexpected escalation'.

The latest advisory follows reports by US media that the Trump administration is weighing one of the most extensive bombing campaigns yet against Iranian energy infrastructure.

According to CBS News, discussions took place during Friday's Cabinet meeting, where Trump was heard saying the US would hit Iran 'very hard' until Tehran could no longer withstand the pressure.

What the US advisory says

The State Department has asked Americans to:

  • Stay alert and maintain heightened vigilance across the Middle East.
  • Be prepared for flight cancellations and sudden airspace closures.
  • Expect possible travel disruptions across the region.
  • Consider leaving the Middle East if the security situation worsens.
  • Be ready to depart immediately should tensions escalate.
  • Reconsider non-essential travel to and through the Middle East even if currently outside the region.

The advisory also warned that US diplomatic facilities, including some outside the Middle East, have previously been targeted and said Iran and groups supportive of Tehran could attack American interests or locations associated with US citizens worldwide.

Earlier, Iran accused Washington of further inflaming regional tensions and warned that any country assisting the United States could be 'engulfed by the flames of war'.

The security alert comes days after the US military announced it had carried out a 'heavy wave' of strikes against targets linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in retaliation for attempted ballistic missile attacks on American forces.

According to US Central Command, dozens of targets were hit, while Iranian state media reported that three people, including a two-year-old child, were killed in the strikes.

 

The conflict has intensified after a brief period of relative calm, with Washington and Tehran exchanging strikes following the collapse of a ceasefire that had been reached earlier this year. The renewed hostilities have also affected shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns over regional stability and global energy supplies.