By JAMES GORDON, US NEWS REPORTER
The United States has placed all its embassies and diplomatic posts worldwide on high alert. Secretary of StateMarco Rubio ordered an immediate global security review. This comes as fears rise over potential Iranian retaliation tied to the Middle East war.
On Tuesday, the State Department sent a sweeping directive reviewed by The Washington Post. It instructed that ‘ALL posts worldwide’ must urgently reassess their security posture. This rare move underscores growing concern that the conflict could spill far beyond the region.
The cable warned of ‘the ongoing and developing situation in the Middle East and the potential for spill-over effects,’ signalling that US officials now see the threat as global and not confined to traditional hotspots.
Signed by Rubio and issued under Undersecretary for Management Jason Evans, the directive orders every diplomatic mission to form Emergency Action Committees. These teams identify threats, coordinate responses, and prepare for worst-case scenarios.
The cable instructs diplomatic posts to share any credible threats with American citizens. This follows the department’s ‘no double standards’ policy, ensuring that warnings given to staff are also communicated to the public.
While heightened alerts have been issued in the Middle East in recent weeks, Tuesday’s order marks the first time in the current crisis that all US diplomatic posts worldwide have been told to simultaneously review their defences.
US embassies and facilities have already endured repeated attacks as the situation escalates.
Since the start of the US-Israeli bombing campaign on February 28, Iran and its proxy groups have targeted American diplomatic sites across the region, forcing temporary closures and evacuations in several countries.
At the US Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a drone strike earlier this month left parts of the compound partially ‘unrecoverable,’ with sections of the roof collapsed and areas contaminated by smoke, according to internal assessments reviewed by the Post.
However, the threats are no longer confined to the Middle East.
Recent incidents include gunfire reported outside the US Consulate in Toronto and an explosion near the US Embassy in Oslo – stark reminders that tensions are reverberating far beyond the conflict zone.
One State Department cable reviewed by the Post assessed that Iranian-backed militia groups have carried out 292 attacks on US facilities since February 28, describing the threat to American personnel as ‘persistent.’
In some cases, the situation has grown even more alarming.
According to the report, groups of armed men have approached homes seeking information about US citizens.
In another incident, an apartment building housing US diplomatic personnel in Israel was struck by an ‘intercepted, unexploded Iranian ballistic warhead’ over the weekend.
While no injuries were reported, officials warned the episode underscored the life-or-death importance of seeking shelter when alarms sound.
Despite the sweeping nature of the global alert, it remains unclear whether specific new intelligence triggered the move or whether the decision reflects mounting concern over a steadily deteriorating security situation.
