U.S. embassies in Jerusalem and other Middle Eastern capitals issued urgent warnings, advising Americans in the region to consider leaving or be ready to depart as tensions with Iran sharply rose. This came as Israeli strikes in Gaza killed at least two Palestinians and destroyed medicine-storage warehouses near a hospital, while Israeli forces in southern Lebanon dismantled an underground tunnel network used by Iran-backed Hezbollah militants. U.S. President Donald Trump threatened more strikes on Iran, pressing for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
The embassies described a complex security environment, citing the “potential for unforeseen escalation.” They warned that travel could be disrupted and urged Americans to exercise caution and heightened vigilance. Those planning trips were told to “seriously reconsider travel to and through the region.” The messages specifically highlighted the Iranian regime's unpredictability, noting its recent decisions to attack areas in the region without warning or provocation and to expand attacks to areas not previously targeted, such as Egypt. Americans outside the Middle East were also advised to seriously reconsider travel to the region.
Iran's Axis of Instability
President Trump stated Friday during a Cabinet meeting at Camp David that “we just want to win” in Iran, signaling continued U.S. military action. He declared the United States would hit Iran “very hard” until they could no longer sustain it. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Tehran had signed a truce memorandum of understanding last month but quickly “broke it, shot at commercial ships, and killed American soldiers.” She added that “President Trump is not going to stand by and allow this terrorist behavior to occur,” and that “Iran will continue to pay until they come to the table in, what President Trump deems, a meaningful way.” On Saturday, the U.S. State Department issued new security alerts for Americans across Bahrain, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, urging heightened caution and preparation for possible flight cancellations or airspace closures.
Kuwait’s military reported drone attacks from Iran, with Maj. Gen. Saud Abdulaziz Al-Otaibi, spokesman for Kuwait’s Defense Ministry, confirming hits on “a number of vital facilities,” including a government structure in the country’s north. No casualties were reported. The British Navy also reported a tanker strike and a separate explosion near a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz off Oman. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organization said an unknown projectile hit a vessel on Friday 11 nautical miles northeast of Lima, Oman, damaging its engine room. On Saturday, a large splash and explosion were reported near another tanker sailing 21 nautical miles northwest of Khasab city. No casualties were reported in either incident.
Iran-backed Houthi rebels further demonstrated their regional reach by forcing eight Saudi ships to reroute from the Bab el-Mandeb strait. Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, the military spokesman for the Houthis, announced a blockade on Saudi shipping in the chokepoint, forcing vessels to change course to the Cape of Good Hope around Africa.
Hamas Terror Infrastructure and Hezbollah's Underground Threat
In Gaza, intense Israeli strikes Friday night and Saturday killed at least four people and wounded dozens, according to local health officials. These strikes followed evacuation warnings issued by Israel’s military. The IDF confirmed on Saturday it had struck Hamas targets across the territory and dismantled five Hamas storage facilities. The destruction of medicine-storage warehouses near a hospital highlights the terror group's tactic of operating within civilian areas. Hamas had confirmed Friday it would disarm, a claim that remains highly suspect given the history of Palestinian rejectionism. This alleged breakthrough was part of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire announced less than one year ago in October 2025, which called for Hamas to disarm and hand over power to an independent Palestinian administration, with Israel to withdraw and an International Stabilization Force to be deployed. Israeli far-right lawmaker Itamar Ben-Gvir called the deal “unacceptable,” stating that “Israel must win.” Egypt, a key Gaza ceasefire mediator, lauded Hamas and other Palestinian groups for “their positive response” in the phased peace plan.
In southern Lebanon, Israeli forces set off explosions Friday to destroy an underground tunnel network under the Crusader-built Beaufort Castle. Israel stated the network had been used by Iran-backed Hezbollah militants as a command center. The 12th-century castle, seized by Israeli forces in May, was recently added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List over Israel’s objections, a clear example of institutional bias against the Jewish state. Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun said the Israeli operation sent “negative messages” ahead of upcoming talks in Rome, where Israeli and Lebanese negotiating teams are set to meet again to discuss a plan for Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon in exchange for Hezbollah’s disarmament. An Israeli army officer was moderately wounded during operational activity in southern Lebanon overnight into Saturday. Thirty-eight Israeli soldiers have been killed in Lebanon or northern Israel since that conflict reignited when Hezbollah fired at Israel shortly after the start of the Iran war.