The U.S. State Department has issued an urgent advisory, urging its citizens to depart immediately from most of the Middle East due to escalating security concerns. The directive applies to 14 countries, including Iran, Israel, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, among others, as the war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran shows no signs of abating.

Scope of the Advisory and Estimated Numbers

The advisory, issued on Monday, covers a wide swath of the region, including Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, the occupied West Bank and Gaza, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Americans are being told to leave via commercial means, as the U.S. has not organized any evacuations in the area. The conflict has disrupted air travel, with many flights suspended or canceled since the U.S. and Israel began striking Iran on Saturday.

Between 500,000 and one million U.S. nationals are estimated to be living in the Middle East, according to officials. However, exact figures are not available because Americans are not required to register with U.S. authorities when they move abroad. The State Department has urged Americans in the region to check with local embassies and consulates for the latest security updates and to use hotlines if they need assistance in leaving the area.

U.S. Embassy in Israel Unable to Assist Evacuations

The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem stated on Monday that it is not in a position to evacuate or directly assist Americans in departing Israel. The embassy said it would be closed on Tuesday, adding that Israel had begun operating shuttles to the Taba Border Crossing with Egypt. However, the embassy warned that it could not recommend whether Americans should use the route.

The situation has become increasingly complex, with Iran responding to the strikes by firing missiles and drones at U.S.-allied nations in the region. This has raised fears of further escalation and has forced governments to reassess the safety of their citizens in the area.

European Countries Take Action to Repatriate Citizens

France has announced that it is prepared to repatriate its citizens who are most at risk in the Middle East. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told BFM TV that this could be achieved through both commercial and military flights. Approximately 400,000 French nationals are believed to be in the region, though the exact number is unclear.

In the UK, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has urged British citizens in the Middle East to register their presence with the government. This would allow the UK to provide timely updates and support in case of an emergency. So far, 102,000 Britons have registered their presence in the region, according to Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, who estimated that around 300,000 British citizens are currently in the area.

Cooper noted that many of those in the region are holidaymakers, passengers transiting through the Gulf, or individuals on business visits. The UK government has used similar registration schemes in the past to assist those affected by international crises, but the scale of this situation is unprecedented in terms of both the number of people and countries involved.

With the conflict showing no signs of de-escalation, the advisory from the U.S. and similar actions by European countries highlight the growing concern over the safety of foreign nationals in the region. The situation has forced governments to consider the logistical challenges of repatriating their citizens and the potential for further regional instability.