The US government has urged Americans across the Middle East to be alert and ready to leave "should there be escalation" in the region. In its alert, the State Department said: "US diplomatic facilities, including outside the Middle East, have been targeted. "Americans in the region should consider departing, or be prepared to depart should there be escalation. Americans outside the Middle East should seriously reconsider travel to and through the region." US embassies across the Middle East - including in Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - reposted the security alert for American nationals, warning of "unexpected escalation".