US warnings in Iraq and the Gulf… and Trump abruptly cuts short his vacation
US warnings in Iraq and the Gulf… and Trump abruptly cuts short his vacation
2026-09-20
Shafaq News – Washington
Early Sunday morning, the US State Department issued a series of simultaneous security alerts through its missions in Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Lebanon, and Jerusalem, urging its citizens to raise their level of vigilance amid fears of a rapid and unexpected escalation of tensions in the Middle East.
The missions said the security environment in the region “remains complex with the potential for unexpected escalation,” warning of flight cancellations, airspace closures and possible travel disruptions.
She asked Americans in the region to check their flight schedules directly with airlines and airports, follow official alerts and local media, and follow the instructions of authorities.
In Iraq, the US mission urged its citizens to monitor flight activity at Baghdad, Erbil, Basra and Sulaymaniyah airports, avoid demonstrations, large gatherings and areas with heavy security presence, as well as to exercise caution in locations publicly associated with the United States and maintain a low profile.
The US Embassy in Amman advised its citizens to avoid traveling to military bases inside Jordan, to respond to sirens and official warnings, and to stay away from windows, glass doors, and falling debris in the event of any air attack.
The warnings indicated that the Iranian-backed Houthis were carrying out military operations against Saudi Arabia that targeted civilian airports, and cautioned that this confrontation could escalate rapidly.
She also said that American diplomatic facilities, both inside and outside the Middle East, have been targeted before, warning of the possibility that Iran or groups supporting it could target other American interests abroad, including companies and institutions linked to the United States.
While most of the warnings focused on increasing caution, the US mission in the UAE urged citizens outside the Middle East to “seriously reconsider” traveling to or transiting through the region.
Washington did not announce the closure of its missions, as its embassies in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Lebanon and Oman, along with the embassy in Jerusalem, confirmed the continuation of regular or emergency consular services.
The warnings came hours after the Houthis announced they had attacked what they described as “sensitive” sites in Riyadh with missiles and drones, while flames and a large cloud of smoke were seen near King Khalid International Airport.
The Saudi-led coalition said its air defenses destroyed a missile fired toward Riyadh and thwarted attacks targeting Bish, Farasan, Taif and Yanbu, while the Houthis announced they had attacked an Aramco facility in Yanbu.
Saudi authorities had sent warnings of the risk of air attacks before announcing the end of the state of emergency.
In a related development, US media reported that President Donald Trump cut short his weekend vacation at the presidential retreat Camp David and decided to return to the White House on Saturday evening, instead of Sunday evening as planned.
The White House did not announce the reason for Trump’s schedule change and shortened stay, nor was it clear whether his early return was related to the rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East.
These developments come within the context of the widening regional war that began with the American and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, before the confrontation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis escalated in July.
Trump told reporters earlier last week that Tehran wanted to reach an agreement, but then said he was close to making a “big decision” on resuming large-scale military operations, and publicly raised the possibility of intervention to “eliminate the Iranian regime.”
shafaq.com
