US suspends embassy services in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iraq

Several US diplomatic missions across the Middle East have suspended operations and issued urgent security advisories following escalating regional tensions and security incidents.

The US Embassy in Kuwait announced it has shut down operations "until further notice," citing ongoing regional tensions. In a statement, the embassy said all regular and emergency consular appointments have been cancelled and that it will inform the public when normal operations resume.

The closure follows days of mounting casualties and military incidents in the region. According to the US military, six American troops were killed and three US fighter jets crashed in Kuwait in what was described as an apparent friendly fire incident.

Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Iraq has ordered non-emergency US government employees to leave the country due to security reasons. The mission also updated its travel advisory, prohibiting US government personnel in Baghdad from using the city's international airport over security risks.

A US State Department official earlier urged American citizens to depart immediately from more than a dozen countries due to serious safety risks. The countries and regions include Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

In Saudi Arabia, the US Embassy in Riyadh announced the cancellation of all routine and emergency services following an attack on the facility. The embassy said a shelter-in-place order was in effect at its missions in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran, and advised US citizens to avoid embassy premises until further notice.

The embassy also urged all American citizens in the Kingdom to maintain a personal safety plan as security concerns continue across the region.