As strikes expanded across the Gulf, U.S. university branch campuses in the region pivoted to remote operations and, in some cases, suspended campus access. Administrators reported difficulties repatriating students and staff amid closed airspace and travel disruptions; several institutions announced immediate online instruction while awaiting security updates. The closures underline international branch campuses’ vulnerability to regional instability and the operational complexity of supporting students abroad. Study‑abroad offices, international enrollment teams, and campus health/safety units must now update evacuation protocols, travel insurance policies, and contingency academic plans for short‑ and longer‑term campus disruptions.