Washington expands embassy security checks worldwide

The US State Department has instructed all American diplomatic missions worldwide to immediately carry out security reviews, citing what it described as the “ongoing and developing situation in the Middle East” and the risk of spillover, according to a cable dated Tuesday, March 17, and reviewed by The Washington Post.

The directive orders “ALL posts worldwide” to convene Emergency Action Committees (EACs) — interagency teams responsible for assessing threats and coordinating response plans — and to reassess their overall security posture. The cable was signed by Marco Rubio and noted that the order originated from Undersecretary for Management Jason Evans.

While similar instructions had been issued in recent weeks to US missions across the Middle East, Tuesday’s cable appears to mark the first time such a requirement has been expanded globally in connection with the ongoing war involving Iran. The State Department declined to comment in detail, stating only that the disclosure of internal communications was “inappropriate” and emphasising that EAC meetings are a routine part of its risk management and preparedness framework.

The order comes amid a series of attacks targeting US diplomatic facilities since the start of the US-Israeli bombing campaign on February 28. Several embassies have been forced to suspend operations temporarily, and personnel have been evacuated from multiple countries.

In Riyadh, a drone strike this month left parts of the US Embassy “unrecoverable,” with sections of the roof collapsing and other areas suffering smoke contamination, according to internal assessments reviewed by the newspaper.

Although most threats have been concentrated in the Middle East, incidents have also occurred elsewhere. These include gunfire reported outside the US Consulate in Toronto and an explosion near the US Embassy in Oslo.

It remains unclear whether specific new intelligence or warnings prompted the global expansion of the EAC directive. However, the cable reiterates that under the State Department’s “no double standards” policy, diplomatic missions must share any credible threat information with US citizens. Officials also stressed that the timing and frequency of EAC meetings depend on operational factors and do not necessarily signal a particular or imminent threat.

According to additional cables reviewed by The Washington Post, Tehran and allied regional groups continue to target US diplomatic sites across the Middle East. One cable sent Monday reported that militia groups in Iraq have carried out 292 attacks on US facilities since February 28, describing the threat environment as “persistent.” It also noted reports of armed individuals visiting private homes in an apparent effort to gather information about US citizens.

In a separate incident over the weekend, an apartment building in Israel housing US diplomatic personnel was struck by what was described as an “intercepted, unexploded Iranian ballistic warhead.” No injuries were reported, but the cable emphasised the importance of taking shelter promptly when warning alarms are activated.

By Tamilla Hasanova