The advisory, which applies to the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Oman, Qatar, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain and Egypt, urges Americans in the region to "exercise heightened vigilance" and "be prepared to depart should there be escalation", warning of "flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and potential travel disruptions". The State Department added: "The Iranian regime is unpredictable, as seen by its recent decisions to attack areas in the region without warning or to expand attacks to areas not previously targeted (such as Egypt)."
Planned strikes on Iran's power grid
The US and Israel are reportedly planning "one of the harshest bombing campaigns to date" against Iran's power grid, according to CBS News sources. No official announcement has been made, but insiders believe strikes could begin as early as this weekend.
Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said: "The Department of War is locked and loaded, ready to execute the President’s directives at a moment’s notice."
President Trump said the Iranian regime would "peter out" if Washington could hit the country hard enough, as he signalled fresh strikes during a Cabinet meeting on Friday. He said: "We will be hitting them very hard and, at some point, they’re going to say, ‘We just can’t take it anymore.’"
Iran warns its neighbours
Iran has also threatened its Middle Eastern neighbours with further attacks, as the regime appears to be gearing up for new strikes. Major General Ali Abdollahi, head of Iran’s wartime military command, said in a statement on Saturday: "The United States is moving at an accelerating pace to fan the flames of a full-scale regional war."
He added: "It is hereby stated explicitly: Muslim countries must, with foresight, monitor America’s crimes and reconsider their cooperation and alignment with the US."
"Otherwise, any country that makes itself a defensive shield for criminal, aggressor America will burn in the fire of war."
