U.S. Citizens in Qatar Told to ‘Shelter in Place’ Amid Iran Retaliation Threats
DOHA, June 24— Following heightened tensions in the Gulf region due to Iran’s threat of retaliation over recent U.S. airstrikes on its nuclear facilities, the U.S. Embassy in Qatar has advised American citizens to remain indoors.
The advisory, issued Monday, comes amid fears that American military assets in the region—particularly the Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest U.S. military installation in the Middle East—could become potential targets if Tehran follows through on its warnings.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we recommend American citizens shelter in place until further notice,” the embassy said on its official website.
The United Kingdom and Canada quickly followed suit, issuing similar advisories to their nationals in Qatar. The UK Foreign Office said the advisory was aligned with the U.S. warning, urging British citizens to remain indoors as a precautionary measure.
“Following a U.S. security alert… we recommend that British nationals in Qatar shelter in place until further notice,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, in Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, the American embassy announced a temporary shift to remote work for some personnel. Bahraini authorities have also directed most government employees to work from home, citing “regional circumstances.”
The heightened alerts follow Iran’s latest warning that the U.S. will face “serious, unpredictable consequences” for its weekend strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities—an escalation that has sparked concerns of a broader regional confrontation.
Tensions in the Gulf have been mounting since Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on June 13, followed by retaliatory missile and drone attacks from Tehran under its ongoing Operation True Promise III. The U.S. later entered the fray by targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, significantly intensifying the risk of direct conflict.
In response to the advisories, Qatari authorities downplayed any immediate security threats. Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said the alerts issued by foreign embassies “do not necessarily reflect the existence of specific or credible threats.”
“We would like to reassure the public that the security situation in the state remains stable,” Al-Ansari posted on X (formerly Twitter).
He added that Qatar continues to pursue intensive diplomatic efforts aimed at defusing tensions in the region.
On Sunday, the U.S. State Department issued a worldwide caution advisory, urging Americans to remain vigilant in light of escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran and the potential for Iranian reprisals against U.S. personnel or interests.
Back in Qatar, Americans had already been advised earlier this month to limit non-essential travel to Al-Udeid Air Base, underscoring the growing sense of urgency as tensions evolve.
As regional uncertainty deepens, governments and embassies are increasingly prioritizing contingency measures while urging their citizens to remain alert and indoors until further notice.