US orders some diplomatic staff to leave Middle East as Iran conflict escalates

Reuters:

DUBAI, March 3- The U.S. on Tuesday ordered non-emergency ​government personnel and their family members ‌to leave the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq and Jordan and closed several ​diplomatic missions across the region as tensions ​with Iran escalated.

The U.S. Mission to Saudi ⁠Arabia was closed following a drone attack, ​with Americans in Jeddah, Riyadh and Dhahran ​told to continue sheltering in place.

The U.S. Embassy in Kuwait said it would remain closed until ​further notice, and all regular and ​emergency consular appointments were cancelled.

In Israel, the ‌U.S. ⁠Embassy said it was not in a position to evacuate or directly assist Americans seeking to leave the country and advised ​citizens to ​make ⁠their own security plans.

The measures come as the conflict involving the ​U.S., Israel and Iranwidens across ​the ⁠region, prompting heightened security precautions at U.S. diplomatic facilities and restrictions on non-essential travel ⁠to ​military installations.