See daily life in Kuwait City as war in region continues to escalate
See daily life in Kuwait City as war in region continues to escalate
01:11
The United States is suspending operations at its embassy in Kuwait as the war in the region continues to escalate, the US State Department announced Thursday.
“While there have been no reported injuries to US personnel, the safety of Americans abroad remains the highest priority of the US Department of State,” the department said in a media note.
The full closure of the embassy speaks to the high level of risk faced by US personnel on the ground. The embassy had been hit several times by suspected Iranian drones.
It had already suspended all routine consular services and ordered the departure of non-emergency personnel and their family members. The State Department is likely to withdraw additional remaining personnel now that the embassy has closed.
The media note advises US citizens in Kuwait to “depart the country, if they can do so safely, using commercial or other available transportation options.”
US citizens who are “unable to depart should shelter in place,” it said.
US citizens “requiring emergency assistance, including consular services and information on available departure options, may contact the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs 24/7 at +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad) and +1-888-407-4747 (from the United States and Canada),” it said.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke on Thursday with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and “expressed gratitude to the foreign minister for Kuwait’s steadfast response to attacks and threats from the Iranian regime.”
“They also discussed ongoing US operations to counter those threats, as well as other developments in the region,” according to a readout from the State Department.