The US Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon is closing until further notice "due to ongoing regional tensions," NBC News reports, citing a statement from the diplomatic mission on social media. Regular and emergency consular appointments have been cancelled. The embassy will announce when it resumes normal operations. According to a 2022 State Department report, approximately 86,000 Americans live in Lebanon.

The US previously closed its embassy in Kuwait.

The US and Israel have been striking Iranian territory since February 28, causing destruction and casualties. In response, Iran has been launching missile strikes against Israel and US military bases in the region. Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Seyyed Khamenei and other senior officials were also killed in the Israeli-American strikes.

On March 2, Hezbollah joined the war against Israel. Israel announced the launch of an offensive operation against the movement.