logo
US boosts emergency Mideast evacuations and travel warnings after Trump orders strikes in Iran

US boosts emergency Mideast evacuations and travel warnings after Trump orders strikes in Iran

Toronto Star5 hours ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department has doubled the number of emergency evacuation flights it is providing for American citizens wishing to leave Israel, ordered the departure of nonessential staff from the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon and is stepping up travel warnings around the Middle East amid concerns Iran will retaliate against U.S. interests in the region.
In internal and public notices, the department over the weekend significantly ramped up its cautionary advice to Americans in the Mideast.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Trump is open to regime change in Iran, after his administration said that wasn't the goal
Trump is open to regime change in Iran, after his administration said that wasn't the goal

Toronto Star

timean hour ago

  • Toronto Star

Trump is open to regime change in Iran, after his administration said that wasn't the goal

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration on Sunday sent a series of conflicting messages to Iran — with U.S. officials initially indicating a willingness to resume negotiations after a surprise attack on three of the country's nuclear sites and President Donald Trump talking up the possibility of regime change. 'It's not politically correct to use the term, 'Regime Change,' but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn't there be a Regime change???' Trump posted on social media. 'MIGA!!!'

Iranian ambassador says US ‘decided to destroy diplomacy' with strikes on nuclear sites
Iranian ambassador says US ‘decided to destroy diplomacy' with strikes on nuclear sites

Toronto Star

time2 hours ago

  • Toronto Star

Iranian ambassador says US ‘decided to destroy diplomacy' with strikes on nuclear sites

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran said Sunday that the U.S. 'decided to destroy diplomacy' with its strikes on the country's nuclear program and that the Iranian military will decide the 'timing, nature and scale of Iran's proportionate response.' Iran's U.N. ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, spoke to an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council hours after the U.S. inserted itself into Israel's war against Iran by striking three nuclear sites inside the Islamic Republic.

Gulf states fear escalation as U.S. Iran strikes rattle region
Gulf states fear escalation as U.S. Iran strikes rattle region

Calgary Herald

time3 hours ago

  • Calgary Herald

Gulf states fear escalation as U.S. Iran strikes rattle region

Article content (Bloomberg) — Iran's Arab neighbors urged restraint and warned of potentially devastating implications for the region after US strikes on Tehran's nuclear program raised the prospects for all-out war in the Middle East. Article content In statements on Sunday, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry condemned the violation of Iran's sovereignty, Qatar warned it would have 'disastrous consequences,' and Oman called it 'illegal.' Those countries, and the United Arab Emirates, have spent months trying to use their geopolitical and economic heft to bolster nuclear talks between the Americans and Iran. Article content Article content Article content They spent the week since Israel launched an unprecedented attack on Tehran trying to keep the US from directly intervening. Saturday night's bombings have shown just how much they are hostage to forces completely outside their control. Article content Article content 'I don't think the Arab Gulf states have much control over the course of events at this stage,' said Hasan Alhasan, Senior Fellow for Middle East Policy at IISS in Manama, Bahrain. 'There is no guarantee that any of the warring parties, Iran, Israel or the US, will take Gulf interests into account.' Article content In a press conference on Sunday, Iran's foreign minister said he'd spoken with counterparts across the region the day before who were 'worried about a possible attack by the United States.' Article content 'Almost all of them are very much concerned and interested to play a role to end this aggression by Israel,' Abbas Araghchi said. Article content Article content Within the region, there was evidence of growing disquiet, with people stockpiling supplies in the UAE and Kuwait. Meanwhile, British Airways halted flights to Dubai and Doha, two of the region's economic centers. Article content It's a stark contrast from just over a month ago when US President Donald Trump visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE on his first scheduled foreign trip since returning to office. There, he touted the potential for trillions of dollars-worth of trade and investments between the US and the Gulf. Article content Leaders are 'forging a future where the Middle East is defined by commerce, not chaos,' Trump said in the Saudi capital, 'where people of different nations, religions, and creeds are building cities together, not bombing each other out of existence. We don't want that.' Article content The Gulf Arab states have sought to leverage their natural resources and trillion-dollar sovereign wealth funds to diversify their economies and emerge as significant geopolitical players. They've acted as key go-betweens during the US-Iran nuclear talks, urging a deal for the sake of regional stability and economic prosperity.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store