US State Department Orders 'Non-emergency' Staff to Leave Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq

Smoke rises from US Navy Base after getting hit by an Iranian strike, in Juffair, Bahrain, March 1, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer
Smoke rises from US Navy Base after getting hit by an Iranian strike, in Juffair, Bahrain, March 1, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer
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US State Department Orders 'Non-emergency' Staff to Leave Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq

Smoke rises from US Navy Base after getting hit by an Iranian strike, in Juffair, Bahrain, March 1, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer
Smoke rises from US Navy Base after getting hit by an Iranian strike, in Juffair, Bahrain, March 1, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer

The US State Department said Tuesday it has ordered non-emergency personnel and their families to leave Bahrain and Jordan, as well as announcing it had ordered staff in Iraq to leave a day earlier, as Iran retaliates to US-Israeli strikes.

The department, in a post on X, said it had updated travel advisories for Bahrain and Jordan "to reflect the ordered departure of non-emergency US government personnel and family members of government personnel."

In an updated Iraq travel advisory, the department said it had on Monday "ordered non-emergency US government employees to leave Iraq due to security concerns."

The ​order ‌comes ‌as the US monitors ‌security risk linked to its ⁠conflict with ⁠Iran.



Qatar Says Thwarted Iran Attacks on Hamad International Airport

02 March 2026, Qatar, Doha: Smoke rise as Qatari air defenses intercepted Iranian missiles using the Patriot missile defense system over Doha. Photo: Stringer/dpa
02 March 2026, Qatar, Doha: Smoke rise as Qatari air defenses intercepted Iranian missiles using the Patriot missile defense system over Doha. Photo: Stringer/dpa
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Qatar Says Thwarted Iran Attacks on Hamad International Airport

02 March 2026, Qatar, Doha: Smoke rise as Qatari air defenses intercepted Iranian missiles using the Patriot missile defense system over Doha. Photo: Stringer/dpa
02 March 2026, Qatar, Doha: Smoke rise as Qatari air defenses intercepted Iranian missiles using the Patriot missile defense system over Doha. Photo: Stringer/dpa

Qatar's military thwarted attacks on Hamad International Airport, the foreign ministry spokesman said on Tuesday, as Iran pressed a retaliatory campaign across the Gulf.

"There were attempts to attack Hamad International Airport, they were all thwarted... the missiles were downed by our defensive measures, and none of them have reached the airport," Majed al-Ansari told a press conference.

He said Qatar had not been in contact with Iran since the start of the strikes.

The spokesperson ⁠also said Iranian ⁠targets were not limited to military sites, but included all Qatari territory.


Saudi Arabia Strongly Condemns Iran Attack on US Embassy in Riyadh, Reserves Right to Respond

A view of the Saudi capital Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A view of the Saudi capital Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Strongly Condemns Iran Attack on US Embassy in Riyadh, Reserves Right to Respond

A view of the Saudi capital Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A view of the Saudi capital Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia strongly condemned on Tuesday an Iranian attack targeting the US ‌embassy ‌in Riyadh, and ‌stressed ⁠it reserved the right ⁠to respond, a foreign ministry statement ⁠said.

The Kingdom ‌reaffirmed its ‌full right ‌to ‌take all necessary measures to defend its ‌security and vital interests, ⁠including the ⁠option of responding to any aggression, the statement said.

It slammed the attack as a “flagrant violation of international law and norms, including the 1949 Geneva Conventions and 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.”

Saudi Arabia said Iran “acted this blatantly despite knowing that the Kingdom has confirmed that it will not allow the use of its airspace and territory to target Iran.” It warned that Iran’s attacks in the region could lead the region towards more escalation.

It stressed that it reserved the right to take all measures to protect its security, territories and safety of its citizens, residents and vital interests.

Iran struck the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia’s capital with two drones early Tuesday, said the Kingdom’s Defense Ministry spokesman Turki al-Malki.

The attack caused a limited fire and minor damage to the building, he added.


MWL Strongly Condemns Iran’s Attacks in Gulf

Vehicles drive along the highway leading to and from Kuwait City on March 2, 2026. (AFP)
Vehicles drive along the highway leading to and from Kuwait City on March 2, 2026. (AFP)
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MWL Strongly Condemns Iran’s Attacks in Gulf

Vehicles drive along the highway leading to and from Kuwait City on March 2, 2026. (AFP)
Vehicles drive along the highway leading to and from Kuwait City on March 2, 2026. (AFP)

The Muslim World League (MWL) strongly condemned on Tuesday “the continued treacherous and indiscriminate Iranian” attacks against Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region.

In a statement, MWL Secretary-General and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars Mohammed Al-Issa slammed the Iranian aggression against peaceful neighboring countries.

He described Tehran’s actions as a “terrorism and corruption” that “violate religious values, international and humanitarian laws, and bilateral agreements, and breach the principles of good neighborliness.”