State Dept orders Americans to depart 14 Middle East countries immediately — 9,000+ already evacuated; embassies closed in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait; largest diplomatic drawdown since Iraq 2003

State Department issued broad warning for US citizens in 14+ Middle East countries to ‘depart now’: Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE, and Yemen. Mandatory departure of non-emergency personnel from 6 countries after Riyadh embassy drone strike. Over 9,000 Americans returned from the Middle East, including 300+ from Israel. Charter flights coordinated from UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. Embassies closed in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. ‘Shelter in place’ orders for Riyadh, Jeddah, Dhahran.