The embassy had maintained the shelter-in-place order since the beginning of the war on 28 February, when the U.S. and Israel launched their attacks on Iran.
The U.S. embassy in Qatar has lifted the shelter-in-place advisory on Sunday, updating its guidance to “Mission Posture” and urging its citizens to remain vigilant and follow the directions of local authorities.
“The U.S. Embassy has removed its shelter-in-place advisory. We urge U.S. citizens to remain vigilant, and follow directions issued by local authorities in the event an alert is issued,” it said on X.
The update replaces the previous shelter-in-place status with what it now calls “mission posture”. The embassy had maintained the shelter-in-place order since the beginning of the war on 28 February, when the U.S. and Israel launched their attacks on Iran.
On 1 March, the U.S. updated the Travel Advisory Level to “Level 3: reconsider travel due to safety risks”, reflecting the authorised departure of non-emergency American government personnel and their family members.
In its latest statement, the embassy said it was conducting reduced operations with its remaining emergency personnel.
“We recommend that all Americans in Qatar remain vigilant and be prepared to duck and cover in a secure location if the Qatari authorities issue an alert. Please exercise caution, as the Iranian government and its proxies may seek to target Americans in retaliation for U.S. strikes against Iran,” it said.
The embassy also said that the U.S. government is ready to assist citizens seeking to leave the Middle East by providing the latest information on departure options.
“If you remain in Qatar, you should remain vigilant and be prepared to shelter in place in a secure location if the Qatari authorities issue an alert. Keep a supply of food, water, medications, and other essential items in your residence,” the embassy added.
Iran has attacked countries in the Middle East, especially in the Gulf region, since the war broke out, claiming to target U.S. interests. However, the attacks were met with global rejection, with regional countries noting that civilian infrastructure has been among Iran’s targets.
