U.S. Embassies and Citizen Security Abroad

The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem issued a new security alert Wednesday telling American citizens in Israel to review travel plans, be prepared for disruptions and maintain personal security amid heightened regional tensions linked to mass protests and a harsh crackdown in Iran. While saying staffing and consular operations remain normal, the embassy urged Americans to have contingency plans should a crisis develop. At the same time, Iran issued a NOTAM closing its airspace to all but pre‑authorized international flights, and the U.S. Virtual Embassy Iran told Americans still inside the country to 'leave Iran now,' recommending overland exits to Armenia or Turkey if safe. The article notes that the embassy in Qatar also reminded U.S. citizens how to receive alerts, underscoring a broader tightening of U.S. diplomatic posture in the region even as Washington publicly weighs how to respond to Iran’s domestic unrest. The guidance signals that, while there has been no specific attack, U.S. officials see enough risk to push citizens in and around Iran to think through evacuation and shelter‑in‑place plans before a crisis hits.