Rubio Orders Global Embassy Security Review Following Attacks on US Diplomatic Posts

The United States Department of State has directed all American embassies and consular posts worldwide to conduct immediate security reviews in response to escalating tensions in the Middle East and recent attacks on diplomatic facilities.

The order, issued Tuesday by Undersecretary of Management Jason Evans and signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, instructed diplomatic posts to undertake security assessments without delay, citing “the ongoing and developing situation in the Middle East and the potential for spill-over effects.”

All posts have been directed to report their current security practices to Washington as quickly as possible. The directive also requires embassies to notify American citizens “where appropriate” under the department’s No Double Standard Policy, which mandates that critical security information be made available to private citizens.

The timing of this global security directive follows a series of attacks on American diplomatic facilities. On Tuesday, an Iran-aligned militia group launched drones and rockets at the United States Embassy in Baghdad. According to American officials, six of seven projectiles were intercepted, resulting in no injuries or significant damage.

American embassies in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have similarly been targeted by retaliatory strikes in recent days. Additionally, an explosion at the United States Embassy in Norway remains under investigation, with Norwegian police authorities indicating the incident may have been a deliberate attack connected to the current security situation.

A State Department spokesperson declined to comment on internal communications but confirmed that the department has continually conducted Emergency Action Committees, which are responsible for preparing for and responding to potential security risks affecting American citizens abroad.

The spokesperson noted that every embassy in the region had convened Emergency Action Committees that included interagency representatives before Operation Epic Fury commenced on February 28. The department regularly directs diplomatic posts to convene such committees, with their timing and frequency determined by operational considerations that do not necessarily indicate new or specific threats.

Prior to the initial strikes on Iran, the United States instructed embassy staff members in Israel to depart quickly if they wished, acting out of an abundance of caution.

The conflict with Iran has now entered its third week with no apparent conclusion in sight. The Trump administration has sent conflicting signals regarding the expected duration of military operations. American military officials have regularly presented President Trump with options to conclude the conflict, none of which he has accepted thus far.

When asked about the war’s conclusion, President Trump stated Friday that he would know when it ends “when I feel it in my bones.”

The global security directive underscores the broader implications of the Middle East conflict and the administration’s concern about potential threats to American diplomatic personnel and citizens worldwide. As military operations continue, the State Department faces the challenge of maintaining security at more than 270 diplomatic posts across the globe while ensuring American citizens receive timely information about potential risks.

The situation remains fluid, and the full scope of security adjustments being implemented at American diplomatic facilities worldwide has not been disclosed for operational security reasons.