The United States has urged its citizens to immediately depart 14 countries via commercial means due to the “serious safety risks” amid the U.S.-Israel war with Iran.
The countries are Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Israel, West Bank, and Gaza are jointly categorized.
On Monday, President Donald Trump said the war could go on longer than the four to five weeks he earlier projected, declaring the U.S. “will easily prevail.”
The Senate will vote this week on the War Powers Resolution, which, depending on the outcome, would limit the use of military force in Iran without congressional approval.
Six U.S. service members stationed at a tactical operation centre at a port in Kuwait were killed in an attack by Iran, which has targeted U.S. assets and Arab countries across the region.
The U.S. is hitting missile and drone production facilities in Iran and naval assets, following the first round of strikes on Iranian defenses. More troops are likely to be deployed.
NATO’s Secretary General Mark Rutte has commended the joint mission to degrade Tehran’s ability to get nuclear and ballistic missile capability, but stated that the alliance would not be involved.
Operation Epic Fury involves the largest regional concentration of U.S. military firepower in a generation. President Trump approved it on February 27 at 3:38 pm EST during his trip to Texas.
In the first 24 hours, 1,000 targets in Iran were hit by American forces, according to General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The offensive is named Operation Roaring Lion in Israel.
US urges Americans to leave 14 countries as Iran war escalates
