By Bill Pan

The U.S. Department of State is urging Americans worldwide, particularly those in the Middle East, to exercise more caution amid the ongoing conflict with Iran.

In a “Worldwide Caution” notice on Feb. 28, the department told U.S. citizens abroad to follow the most recent security alerts issued by the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The alert warned that Americans “may experience travel disruptions due to periodic airspace closures” and advised heightened vigilance, especially in the Middle East.

The warning comes as the region’s aviation networks scrambled to tackle a rapidly shifting security situation after the United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, followed by Iranian retaliation targeting U.S. military assets in neighboring countries.

Air Travel Disruptions

Airlines and aviation authorities have rerouted flights and canceled service as multiple countries imposed temporary airspace restrictions.

Flight tracking site Flightradar24 showed that skies over Iran, Iraq, Israel, Bahrain, and Kuwait remained largely empty since the initial wave of disruption, with planes already airborne having to divert or return to departure points.

Major hubs such as Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international traffic, suspended all operations until further notice, while Doha and Abu Dhabi followed suit with similar halts.

Regional airlines with expansive global networks—including Emirates, flydubai, Qatar Airways, Kuwait Airways, and other carriers—have canceled hundreds of flights, according to flight tracking site FlightAware.

In the United States, Delta issued an alert warning travelers about cancellations on flights to Tel Aviv and Dubai. United Airlines also alerted customers to potential cancellations affecting Tel Aviv service. American Airlines, meanwhile, told travelers that flights routing through Doha’s Hamad International Airport in Qatar could be affected.

Past Global Alerts

U.S. diplomatic posts in the region also issued local security advisories. The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, for instance, reminded Americans to exercise caution and maintain situational awareness—including knowing where the nearest shelter is in the event of mortar, rocket, or missile fire, or drone attacks that can occur “without any warning.”

This is not the first time the State Department has issued a global caution in response to fast-moving Middle East instability. The department released a similar worldwide security alert last June shortly after U.S. and Israeli forces struck three Iranian nuclear facilities, advising Americans overseas to use caution amid heightened tensions and the risk of disruptions and demonstrations.

The department also issued a Worldwide Caution on Oct. 19, 2023, after the Hamas-led Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel and ensuing regional tensions, warning of potential terrorist attacks and demonstrations targeting U.S. citizens and interests abroad.