U.S. State Department Issues New Middle East Warnings Amid Threats From Iran and Houthi Forces
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of State has updated travel advisories for several Middle Eastern countries, warning Americans about increased security threats involving Iranian-supported Houthi forces and potential attacks targeting U.S. government officials.
The advisories, issued Friday, October 23, 2026, address growing concerns about armed attacks, regional instability and potential disruptions to international travel.
According to the State Department, Iranian-supported Houthi forces have conducted attacks against Saudi Arabia, including strikes targeting civilian airports and critical infrastructure. The department warned that hostilities could rapidly expand beyond the areas currently affected.
The updated advisories also cite increased concerns about Iranian efforts to target American government officials throughout the region.
The State Department has maintained its Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory for Iran, citing terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, arbitrary arrests and wrongful detention. Americans currently in Iran are urged to leave immediately.
The United States does not maintain an embassy in Iran, and the State Department says its ability to provide emergency assistance to American citizens there is extremely limited.
Qatar and the United Arab Emirates remain under Level 3 advisories, recommending that Americans reconsider travel because of security concerns, including the risk of armed conflict.
The State Department has also warned that additional staffing adjustments may be imposed on American diplomatic personnel in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates as security conditions change.
In Qatar, U.S. government employees must obtain special authorization before traveling to the country. In the United Arab Emirates, restrictions apply to government employee travel to certain military installations and critical energy infrastructure.
The department’s October 23 updates did not change the existing travel advisory levels for the affected countries but added information concerning increased threats from Iranian-supported Houthis and potential targeting of American officials.
Separately, the U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia issued a security alert on October 21 warning Americans about Houthi hostilities and threats to civilian infrastructure.
The State Department continues to advise Americans traveling internationally to exercise increased caution and monitor security information issued by U.S. embassies and consulates.
Americans in the Middle East are encouraged to review country-specific travel advisories and follow instructions from local authorities and American diplomatic missions as security conditions develop.
The latest official travel advisories and security information are available at travel.state.gov.
