Americans worldwide urged to be cautious after US operations in Iran

The State Department has issued a worldwide caution for Americans, not just in the Middle East.

USA TODAY Passengers look at departure board at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport as some flights to Dubai and Doha cancelled following strikes on Iran launched by the United States and Israel. Stranded passengers wait near Emirates Airways customer service office at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport after flights to Doha, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi were cancelled following strikes on Iran launched by the United States and Israel.

Americans worldwide urged to be cautious after US operations in Iran

"Following the launch ofU.S. combat operations in Iran, Americans worldwide and especially in the Middle East should follow the guidance in the latest security alerts issued by the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate," theState Department announcedFeb. 28. "The Department of State advises Americans worldwide to exercise increased caution."

A number of U.S. embassies and consulates across the Middle East have advised U.S. citizens toshelter in place.

Travelers hoping to either leave or enter the region are also being limited by temporary airspace closures.

US-Iran live updatesIsrael, Iran trade strikes after Khamenei killed

Stranded passengers wait near Emirates Airways customer service office at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport after flights to Doha, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi were cancelled following strikes on Iran launched by the United States and Israel.

Airports, airspace closed

In the United Arab Emirates, one person was killed and seven people were hurt by falling debris after a drone targetingZayed International Airportwas intercepted, according toAbu Dhabi Airports.The airport and UAE airspace are currently closed.

Four workers were hurt when a concourse sustained minor damage at Dubai International Airport, one theworld's busiest, according toDubai Airports.A spokesperson said most terminals had already been evacuated at the time. The airport and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International have both suspended flights until further notice.

Several workers suffered minor injuries in a drone attack on Kuwait International Airport, a spokesperson for the country's civil aviation authority told state-ownedKuwait News Agency KUNA.

Bahrain International AirportandHamad International Airportin Qatar have suspended flight operations due to airspace closures over their respective countries. Israel has also closed its airspace and evacuated passengers at Ben Gurion International Airport and Haifa Airport, according to itsAirports Authority.Some of Israel's land border crossings are also closed.

Advertisement

The vast majority of El Al, Emirates, FlyDubai, Gulf Air and Qatar Airways flights for March 1 are cancelled, according toflight tracking website FlightAware. More than half of Etihad Airways' flights are canceled as well.

Passengers look at departure board at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport as some flights to Dubai and Doha cancelled following strikes on Iran launched by the United States and Israel.

What travelers should do

U.S. citizens currently abroad or heading out of the country are urged to enroll in the State Department's freeSmart Traveler Enrollment Programfor important updates and easier reach in the event of an emergency.

"Also follow our WhatsApp channel 'U.S. Department of State – Security Updates for U.S. Citizens' and@TravelGovsocial media," State Department Assistant Secretary for Consular AffairsMora Namdar posted on X,adding that the safety and security of Americans is their highest priority. "Americans in the Middle East region who need consular assistance can call 24/7 at +1-202-501-4444 from overseas or +1-888-407-4747 from the U.S. and Canada."

Travelers trying to rebook flights to the Middle East should reach out to their respective airlines.

In a statement to USA TODAY, a spokesperson for Israel's El Al said the airline is proactively reaching out to existing ticketholders and will give them first priority once flights are allowed to resume. Ticket purchases for other flights have been closed until March 21 or until existing ticketholders can be rebooked.

"Closing ticket sales is intended to ensure full priority for customers whose tickets were issued before the current situation and to guarantee their travel as soon as possible," the airline said, directing customers toEl Al's websiteand social media for the latest updates.

The U.S. Department of Transportation requires travelers to be given a refund if their flight is canceled for any reason and they choose to no longer fly.

Travelers who already purchasedtravel insurance for their tripsmay have additional options. However, Squaremouth Travel Insurance notes, "Most standard travel insurance plansexclude cancellation coverage for military action, acts of war, or government-imposed airspace closures."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Americans urged to exercise caution abroad: What travelers should know

Americans worldwide urged to be cautious after US operations in Iran

The State Department has issued a worldwide caution for Americans, not just in the Middle East. Americans worl...
Iran live updates: 3 US service members killed, 5 wounded, CENTCOM says

Watch "Shockwaves: The Attack on Iran – ABC News Special," airing Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on ABC and streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.

ABC News

President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Saturday, with daytime strikes in the joint U.S.-Israel attack targeting military and government sites, officials said.

On Sunday, Iranian state television confirmed that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was among those killed by airstrikes in Tehran on Saturday.

Iran is responding to the U.S.-Israeli operation with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, regional U.S. bases and several Gulf nations. On Sunday, Israel said it was again bombing targets in Tehran.

Latest Developments

Mar 1, 1:47 PMOmani foreign minister says Iran open to 'any serious efforts' to reduce tensions

Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, told his Omani counterpart on Sunday that Tehran welcomes "any serious efforts contributing to de-escalation and the restoration of stability," according to a social media post from the Oman News Agency.

The post said Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidii, who had been mediating the negotiations between the United States and Iran leading up to Saturday's joint U.S.-Israel military operation, spoke with Araghchi by phone.

Araghchi "conveyed the position of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which calls for peace, noting that the Israeli-US attack upon his country had exacerbated tension and alarm throughout the region, while affirming the Iranian side's openness to any serious efforts contributing to de-escalation and the restoration of stability," the post read.

The post further said al-Busaidii "affirms the Sultanate of Oman's continued advocacy for a ceasefire and a return to dialogue and negotiation to resolve the ongoing conflict through diplomatic means."

-ABC News' Somayeh Malekian

Mar 1, 1:01 PMIran's state-run TV building targeted, broadcaster says

Iran's state-run Islamic Republic State TV announced Sunday that its broadcasting building was targeted in the joint U.S.-Israel attacks.A state TV presenter said that an American-Israeli attack targeted the country's broadcasting building. The presenter added that state TV broadcasting continues as usual as technical teams assess the situation.-ABC News' Somayeh Malekian

Mar 1, 12:54 PMTrump says 9 Iranian naval ships 'destroyed and sunk'

President Donald Trump claimed on Sunday that U.S. military forces "destroyed and sunk" nine Iranian naval ships and that Iran's naval headquarters had also sustained major damage since strikes against the country began on Saturday."I have just been informed that we have destroyed and sunk 9 Iranian Naval Ships, some of them relatively large and important," Trump said in a social media post. "We are going after the rest -- they will soon be floating at the bottom of the sea, also!"

The White House - PHOTO: President Donald Trump and his team momintor U.S. strikes in Iran, on Feb. 28, 2026.

The president said Iran's Naval Headquarters was also attacked, adding, "We largely destroyed their Naval Headquarters. Other than that, their Navy is doing very well!"

Earlier Sunday, U.S. Central Command said in anonline postthat "an Iranian Jamaran-class corvette was struck by U.S. forces during the start of Operation Epic Fury. The ship is currently sinking to the bottom of the Gulf of Oman at a Chah Bahar pier."-ABC News' Nicholas Kerr and Cindy Smith

Mar 1, 12:09 PMCIA had been tracking Khamenei for months prior to attack

The CIA had been tracking Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei for months prior to Saturday's U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, a source familiar with the intelligence confirmed to ABC News.When they learned there would be a meeting of top leaders on Saturday with the Supreme leader, the timing of the attack was moved, the source said, adding that the agency had high confidence in their analysis.

Advertisement

Behrouz Mehri/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei votes at Imam Khomeini mosque, February 20, 2004 in Tehran.

These details were first reported by The New York Times.Khamenei was killedin Saturday's attacks.A second source told ABC News that Israel had been planning for months with its own intelligence to target Iranian leadership, according to a person familiar with the operation.-ABC News' Cindy Smith and Anne Flaherty

Mar 1, 11:34 AMIsrael 'striking the heart of Tehran,' Netanyahu says

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces were "striking the heart of Tehran with increasing strength, which will increase even more in the coming days."Netanyahu's comments were part of a recorded video message in which said he had "given instructions for the continuation of the campaign" after meeting with senior Israeli officials, including "the minister of defense, the chief of staff and the head of the Mossad," Israel's national intelligence agency.

Avi Ohayon/GPO/EPA/Shutterstock - PHOTO: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers an address from the roof of the Kirya in Tel Aviv, Israel, March 1, 2026.

Netanyahu also said the joint U.S.-Israeli attacks had "eliminated dozens of senior officials of the oppressive regime" in addition to "the dictator Khamenei," referring to Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in Saturday's attacks.He also addressed reports of Israelis killed and injured in retaliatory strikes on Israel, saying "These are painful days. ... My heart goes out to the families.""We are in a campaign in which we are bringing the entire strength of the IDF, as never before, to this campaign to ensure our existence and our future," Netanyahu said. "But we are also bringing to this campaign the assistance of the United States, my friend, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, the U.S. military. This combination of forces allows us to do what I have been hoping to do for 40 years: to strike the terrorist regime squarely in the face. I promised, and so we will."-ABC News' Victoria Beaule

Mar 1, 8:35 AMIsrael reports 9 dead, 49 injured in 'missile barrage'

Israeli Emergency Services said on Sunday that nine people were killed and 49 were injured in a "missile barrage" in the Beit Shemesh region in central Israel.A spokesperson for the emergency service, also known as MDA, announced that paramedics were treating casualties after a missile barrage fired at Israel on Saturday and overnight.The injured were taken to hospitals in Jerusalem and Shamir, including three people in serious condition, three "moderately injured" and 43 "lightly injured," according to the MDA.

Rescue operations were also underway to locate any people who may be trapped in debris from the attacks, according to the Israel Fire and Rescue Service.-ABC News' Dorit Long and Victoria Beaule

Mar 1, 8:54 AMIran forms interim leadership council, state TV reports

The interim leadership council of Iran has been formed following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iranian state TV reported Sunday.According to the Islamic Republic's constitution, the interim leadership council is comprised of the president, the head of the judiciary and one of the members of the six "faghihs" – Islamic jurists who are scholars of Islamic law – of the Guardian Council.

Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei adjusts his eyeglasses during a press conference after casting his ballot for the parliamentary runoff elections in Tehran, May 10, 2024.

According to the spokesperson for Iran's Guardian Council, since the faghih member of the Guardian Council to join the interim leadership council has been chosen, the leadership council is already formed."The constitution provides for the current situation and the Leadership Council will be in charge until the leadership is determined," the Guardian Council spokesman said on state TV.According to the law, the leadership must be determined as soon as possible, given the war conditions, according to a post on Iranian state TV's Telegram account.-ABC News' Somayeh Malekian

Mar 1, 8:06 AM3 killed in Iranian attacks on UAE, Defense Ministry says

The United Arab Emirates' Defense Ministry said in a statement on Sunday that three people had been killed and 58 people injured in Iranian attacks since Saturday.

-/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: A projectile falls over Dubai, UAE, on Feb. 28, 2026.

The ministry said that since the start of the conflict, Iran had launched 165 ballistic missiles, two cruise missiles and 541 drones toward the country. Of those, 152 ballistic missiles, both cruise missiles and 506 drones were intercepted. Thirteen ballistic missiles also fell into the sea, the ministry said.Thirty-five drones "fell within the country's territory" causing "material damage" and casualties, the ministry said. Those killed were from Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh, the statement said.

Mar 1, 8:06 AMLarijani says attacks on regional nations are targeting US bases

Ali Larijani, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, said in a post to X on Sunday that Tehran is launching attacks on regional nations to target U.S. military installations there.

Fadel Senna/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: A yacht sails in front of a plume of smoke rising from the port of Jebel Ali following a reported Iranian strike in Dubai, UAE, on March 1, 2026.

"To the countries of the region: We are not seeking to attack you," Larijani wrote. "But when the bases located in your country are used against us, and when the United States carries out operations in the region relying on these forces, then we will target those bases.""These bases are not part of the land of those countries; rather, they are American soil," he added.Since the U.S. and Israel began their strikes on Iran on Saturday, Iranian forces have launched missile and drone attacks at Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman.

Mar 1, 7:25 AMUS Embassy in Bahrain advises citizens to avoid hotels after attack

The U.S. Embassy in Bahrainadvised U.S. citizensin the country "that hotels might be a target for future attacks" and encouraged them to avoid hotels in the capital Manama, following a reported strike on the city's Crowne Plaza Hotel.

Fadhel Madan/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: This photo shows the damaged Crowne Plaza hotel in Manama on March 1, 2026.

The Bahrain Interior Ministry said on Sunday that the hotel was targeted resulting in material damaged but no loss of life.The U.S. Embassy said it was "tracking confirmed reports the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Manama was struck on March 1, 2026, resulting in injuries."Bahrain has reported being attacked with multiple waves of Iranian missiles and drones since Saturday.-ABC News' Victoria Beaule

Click here to read the rest of the blog.

Iran live updates: 3 US service members killed, 5 wounded, CENTCOM says

Watch "Shockwaves: The Attack on Iran – ABC News Special," airing Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on ABC and streaming on D...
Former NFL safety Vonn Bell joining Deion Sanders' Colorado staff as an analyst

Former NFL safety Vonn Bell is now a member of Deion Sanders' coaching staff at Colorado, while Pro Football Hall of Famer Warren Sapp is not.

Yahoo Sports BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 7: Vonn Bell #24 of the Cincinnati Bengals warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on November 7, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

Bell was revealed as an analyst for the Buffaloes ahead of the 2026 season as the program revealed its defensive coaching lineup on Saturday. Former Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Chris Marve is now leading the Buffaloes defense followingthe departure of defensive coordinator Robert Livingston to the Denver Broncos.

Advertisement

Bell last played in the NFL in 2024 when he returned for a fourth season with the Cincinnati Bengals. He played 139 games across nine seasons in the league after starting his career with the New Orleans Saints before joining Cincinnati ahead of their run to the Super Bowl in the 2020 season. He played one season in Carolina in 2023 before coming back to the Bengals.

Earlier in the week, Colorado said that Sapp had resigned from the coaching staff "to pursue other opportunities." Sapp was an analyst during the 2024 season and was the team's pass rush coordinator in 2025. After a nine-win season in 2024, Colorado was an abysmal 3-9 in 2025.

Longtime college football and NFL assistant Clancy Pendergast is also now a member of Colorado's coaching staff. Pendergast was a defensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs before serving as defensive coordinator for both Cal and USC in the 2010s.

Former NFL safety Vonn Bell joining Deion Sanders' Colorado staff as an analyst

Former NFL safety Vonn Bell is now a member of Deion Sanders' coaching staff at Colorado, while Pro Football Hall of ...
World leaders urge return to talks after US and Israeli strikes kill Iranian leader Ali Khamenei

BRUSSELS (AP) — World leaders urged peace and a return to talks as the military strikesby the United States and Israel on Iranraised concerns about whether the violence could spread across the region and tensions rose with Iran vowing devastating blows after the killing ofIran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Associated Press Iranian people attend a demonstration in support of the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) A protester holds a crown in London, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026 after U.S. and Israeli forces carried out a series of strikes on Iran on Saturday morning. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) Smoke rises up after a strike in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaks with students and staff, during a visit to the Walbottle Academy Campus in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (Scott Heppell/PA via AP) German Chancellor Friedrich Merz speaks before media members as he visits facilities of Siemens Energy during his official visit, in Hangzhou, China, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (Andres Martinez Casares/Pool Photo via AP) Iranian people attend a demonstration in support of the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) Iranian people attend a demonstration in support of the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) People march during a protest in New York, on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, against U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. (AP Photo/Kena Betancur)

Germany Iran US Israel

A massive explosion rocked the Iranian capital on Sunday morning as the Israeli military said it was targeting the "heart" of the city after stating it cleared the path to the capital Tehran the day before. Meanwhile, Iran pressed on with its retaliation campaign targeting U.S. military bases in Gulf states.

The demise of Khamenei, who had no designated successor, will likely throw Iran's future into uncertainty and exacerbate already growing concerns of a broader conflict. But it has also been giving hope to Iranians who have suffered from political repression.

Speaking on Sunday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recognized the complexities of the situation. In recognition of the legal ambiguity of the U.S. attack, Merz said that, globally, international law was being respected less and less and there was little point in lecturing allies.

He said the Iranian regime was a "terrorist" one, endangering its citizens and the region and therefore Germany essentially agreed with the goals of the U.S. action.

"The Federal Government shares the relief of many Iranians that this mullah regime is now coming to an end," Merz said. "Together with the United States and Israel, we share the interest in ending this regime's terror and stopping its dangerous nuclear and ballistic armament."

The evolution of the situation was hard to predict, the German chancellor said. Not only is it unclear how far Iran is willing to go with its counterattack, but also "we do not know whether the plan to bring about political change from within through external military strikes will succeed."

To reduce risks, Merz set out four principles his country would pursue in its further actions the region: creating a new order in the Middle East in which all neighbors recognize Israel's right to exist; pursuing a treaty that commits Iran to ending its nuclear and ballistic missile program; supporting the future economic development of Iran and helping Iranians to freely determine their future.

World leaders urge resumption of talks

Fears about the conflict spreading were amplified on Sunday, when British Defense Minister John Healey said Iranian missile and drone strikes came within a few hundred yards (meters) of a group of 300 British military personnel in Bahrain, and that two missiles were even fired in the direction of Cyprus, where the U.K. has bases.

"We don't believe they were targeted at Cyprus, but nevertheless, it's an example of how there is a very real and rising threat from a regime that is lashing out widely across the region, and that requires us to act," Healey told Sky News.

He said British planes will intercept any Iranian drones and missiles they see.

Cyprus government spokesman Constantinos Letymbiotis posted on X that reports suggesting missiles had been fired toward Cyprus are not valid and that "there is no indication whatsoever that any threat to the country has occurred."

Top diplomats from the 27 European Union nations are holding an emergency meeting Sunday to discuss the situation around Iran and the next steps for the bloc.

"The death of Ali Khamenei is a defining moment in Iran's history. What comes next is uncertain," said EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Sunday. "But there is now an open path to a different Iran, one that its people may have greater freedom to shape."

Pope Leo XIV said Sunday he was "profoundly concerned" about the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and urged both sides to "stop the spiral of violence before it becomes an irreparable abyss."

Advertisement

During a U.N. Security Council on Saturday, the U.N. chief and many countries urged a halt toattacksand a return to negotiations to prevent the conflict from expanding further into the region and beyond.

Secretary-General António Guterres told the council that everything must be done to prevent an escalation. "The alternative," he warned, "is a potential wider conflict with grave consequences for civilians and regional stability."

Perhaps cautious about upsetting already strained relations with Trump, many nations, including several in the Middle East, refrained from commenting directly or pointedly on the joint strikes but condemned Tehran's retaliation.

The 22-nation Arab League called the Iranian attacks "a blatant violation of the sovereignty of countries that advocate for peace and strive for stability." That coalition of nations has historically condemned both Israel and Iran for actions it says risk destabilizing the region.

"Return to your senses ... and deal with your neighbors with reason and responsibility before the circle of isolation and escalation widens," Anwar Gargash, an adviser to the United Arab Emirates' president, told the Iranian theocracy on Sunday.

Condolence messages

On Sunday, Russian leader Vladimir Putin blasted Khamenei's killing, which he called "a cynical violation of all norms of human morality and international law."

"The blatant killing of the leader of a sovereign state and the incitement of regime change are unacceptable," China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a phone call with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, according to China's official Xinhua News Agency.

"These actions violate international law and the basic norms governing international relations."

He said attacking a sovereign state without U.N. Security Council authorization undermines the foundation for peace established after World War II.

Protests and celebrations

At least nine people were killed in clashes with police Sunday after hundreds of protesters stormed the U.S. Consulate in the Pakistani port city of Karachi, authorities said.

Hundreds of Iraqis wore black and waved flags belonging to Iran-backed Iraqi militias and red flags that symbolize vengeance in the Shiite Muslim faith as they marched across Sadr City to decry the killing of Khamenei.

Demonstrations were also held from New York to Berlin and beyond by members of the Iranian diaspora and their supporters, celebrating the end of Khamenei's rule.

Iranians in Berlin and Vienna were seen cheering and dancing on Sunday in celebration. Some of the demonstrators waved flags of the Iranian monarchy, with Israeli and U.S. flags also on display. Hopeful Iranians also took to the streets in multiple U.S. cities.

Ciobanu reported from Warsaw and Metz from Ramallah, West Bank. Reporters around the world contributed to this report.

World leaders urge return to talks after US and Israeli strikes kill Iranian leader Ali Khamenei

BRUSSELS (AP) — World leaders urged peace and a return to talks as the military strikesby the United States and Israel on...
9 people injured in Cincinnati mass shooting

CINCINNATI – Nine people were injured in amass shooting during an event at concert venue in Cincinnatiearly Sunday, March 1, police said.

USA TODAY

The people injured atRiverfront Livewere taken to local hospitals and their injuries are not considered life-threatening, according to Adam Hennie, interim chief of the Cincinnati Police Department.

The call for the shooting came in about 1 a.m. ET, Hennie said. The music venue and the area around it were blocked off as police investigated at 3 a.m. ET.

Advertisement

Police have not said anything about suspects or what led up to the shooting. An event was in progress at the venue, Hennie said, but he did not say what it was.

The shooting occurred the same day at least three people died and 14 were injured during amass shooting at a bar in Austin, Texas. There have been 56 mass shootings, in which four or more people are injured, so far in 2026, according to theGun Violence Archive.

Contributing: Reuters

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer:9 people injured in Cincinnati mass shooting

9 people injured in Cincinnati mass shooting

CINCINNATI – Nine people were injured in amass shooting during an event at concert venue in Cincinnatiearly Sunday, March...

 

INS MAG © 2015 | Distributed By My Blogger Themes | Designed By Templateism.com