The entire Middle Eastern region has been rocked by instability since the U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran on the last day of February 2026.
Recent escalations threatening security came as the Iran-backed Houthi rebels strike targets and make territorial advances within Yemen and Saudi Arabia, CNN reported.
Over the weekend starting on Sept. 19, Houthis targeted the Saudi capital of Riyadh with drone and ballistic missiles, in an attack that caused a fuel depot fire near King Khalid International Airport (RUH).
Oil facilities in the critical port city of Yanbu were also targeted. As a result, flights into Saudi Arabia remain severely disrupted as the regional conflict deepens far beyond the Strait of Hormuz.
Amid the escalations, the U.S. State Department issued an advisory for all U.S. citizens traveling in or across the Middle East.
“Americans should seriously reconsider travel to and through the region”
“Americans currently in the Middle East should exercise heightened vigilance and be aware of potential flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel disruptions,” the Sept. 19 statement reads. “Americans outside the Middle East should seriously reconsider travel to and through the region.”
The travel advisory extends to much of the geographic area of the Middle East, including Egypt, Israel, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. The United Arab Emirates has also been under a level three “reconsider travel” advisory since March 2026 due to “the ongoing threat of drone and missile attacks from Iran and significant disruptions to commercial flights.”
Related: Travel advisory warns Americans increasingly refused UK entry
Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen are under the highest State Department “do not travel” rating typically reserved for active war zones and authoritarian governments.
The general guidance of caution and avoidance of nonessential travel is in place for the entire Middle East because “the military conflict has the potential to escalate rapidly.”
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Government advice: “Monitor information about airport and airline operations”
“U.S. diplomatic facilities, including outside the Middle East, have been targeted,” the travel warning reads further. “Iran and groups supportive of Iran may target other U.S. interests overseas or at locations associated with the United States and Americans throughout the world, including U.S. businesses and other institutions.”
Those who do travel to the region are urged to “monitor information about airport and airline operations” due to the high risk of disruption, even if flights are running at the moment.
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With the Iran war now approaching the eighth-month mark, widespread instability and persistent flare-ups in fighting have severely disrupted international airlines’ ability to fly to most Middle Eastern cities or set flight timelines for the future.
United Airlines, American Airlines, and British Airways have all repeatedly pushed back the restart of their flights to cities including Dubai, Doha, and Tel Aviv. The latter airline also permanently axed its flight between London Heathrow and Abu Dhabi International Airport “due to ongoing uncertainty and airspace restrictions.”
The initial plan prior to the military conflict and subsequent drop in traveler numbers had been to launch six weekly flights to Abu Dhabi by the spring of 2027.
Related: Major airline makes it easier to get refunds for Middle East flights
