State Department Issues Middle East Travel Caution as Iranian State Media Claims Missile Strike on U.S. Base in Jordan

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of State on August 1 advised Americans currently in the Middle East to exercise caution and heightened vigilance and to prepare for flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and potential travel disruptions.

Some airlines in the region have postponed resumption of earlier flight schedules; others have cancelled some routes.

Americans in the region should consider departing, or be prepared to depart should there be escalation. Americans outside the Middle East should seriously reconsider travel to and through the region. Those who do travel to or from the region should monitor information about airport and airline operations.

U.S. diplomatic facilities, including outside the Middle East, have been targeted. 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.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on August 1 that the United States signed an MOU with Iran and they broke it, shot at commercial ships, and killed American soldiers; President Trump is not going to stand by and allow this terrorist behavior to occur; Iran will continue to pay until they come to the table in, what President Trump deems, a meaningful way; the president remains committed to a diplomatic solution but will continue to respond to Iran’s attacks.

The statement linked the soldier deaths to the period after the MOU was signed but did not provide specific dates for those deaths.

Iranian state-run Tasnim News Agency quoted a senior security official on August 1 as stating that Iran has prepared a comprehensive plan to respond to any U.S. action the official described as madness.

The official stated the plan includes targeting the vital infrastructure of Israel and U.S. energy infrastructure in the region and that Iran is ready for it. Neither U.S. Central Command nor the Department of Defense has released a confirmation of new strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure as of August 2.

Iranian state-run IRNA News Agency reported on August 2 that the IRGC Aerospace Force targeted the U.S. F-35 repair hangar and ramp at Al-Azraq Base in Jordan with multiple ballistic missiles that morning, stating the action was in response to American operations on Qeshm Island.

According to the IRNA account, the attack destroyed three F-35 fighters and severely damaged three others.

Neither U.S. Central Command, the Department of Defense, nor any Jordanian government body has confirmed or denied the claimed strike as of the latest available reporting.

Unverified claims of a weekend energy-infrastructure package have circulated; neither the White House, U.S. Central Command, nor the Department of Defense has confirmed or denied them as of August 2.

No named Israeli government body has confirmed awareness of a decision to restart full military operations or a request to join such actions as of August 2.

Official Statements

• IRNA News Agency (state-run media) quoting IRGC, August 2: “IRGC stated that its Aerospace Force targeted the US F-35 repair hangar and ramp at Al-Azraq Base, Jordan with multiple ballistic missiles this morning, avenging the American aggression on Qeshm Island. The attack obliterated three F-35 fighters and severely damaged three more.”

• U.S. Department of State TravelGov, August 1: “Middle East: Americans currently in the Middle East should exercise caution and heightened vigilance and should be prepared for flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and potential travel disruptions. Some airlines in the region have postponed resumption of earlier flight schedules; others have cancelled some routes. Americans in the region should consider departing, or be prepared to depart should there be escalation. Americans outside the Middle East should seriously reconsider travel to and through the region. Those who do travel to or from the region should monitor information about airport and airline operations. U.S. diplomatic facilities, including outside the Middle East, have been targeted. 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.”

• White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, August 1: “The United States signed an MOU with Iran and they broke it, shot at commercial ships, and killed American soldiers. President Trump is not going to stand by and allow this terrorist behavior to occur. Iran will continue to pay until they come to the table in, what President Trump deems, a meaningful way.”

• Iranian state-run Tasnim News Agency quoting a senior security official, August 1: “We consider the claims of the American media about possible attacks by the US and Israel on Iranian infrastructure as a kind of madness. Because we have prepared a comprehensive plan to respond (to any such attack) that includes (targeting) the vital infrastructure of Israel and the US energy infrastructure in the region and we are ready for it.”