American University of Beirut moves to online learning after Iran threats

BEIRUT — The American University of Beirut on Sunday said it would operate remotely over the next two days, following the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ threat to target US universities in the region.

“Like many of you, we learned early this morning of threats issued against American universities in the region,” AUB President Fadlo Khouri said in a statement.

“At this time, we have no evidence of direct threats against our university, its campuses or medical centers. At the same time, out of an abundance of caution, we will operate fully online on Monday and Tuesday, with the exception of essential personnel.”

READ: Iran issues threat against US universities in Middle East

Classes and exams will be carried out remotely, Khouri added.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard on Sunday threatened to target US universities in the Middle East after saying US-Israeli strikes had destroyed two Iranian universities.

“If the US government wants its universities in the region to be free from retaliation… it must condemn the bombing of the universities in an official statement by 12 noon on Monday, March 30, Tehran time,” said the statement published by Iranian media.

“We advise all employees, professors, and students of American universities in the region and residents of their surrounding areas” to stay a kilometre away from campuses, the statement added.

READ: Top US counterterror official quits, says Iran posed no imminent threat

Several US universities have campuses scattered throughout the Middle East, such as Texas A&M University in Qatar and New York University in the United Arab Emirates.

In Lebanon, the American University of Beirut is one of the most prominent US institutions in the region.

The university and its hospital are located in the heart of Beirut.

In Jordan, the American University of Madaba, about 35 kilometers (22 miles) southwest of the capital Amman, also said it was holding online classes until Thursday for its 3,000 students.

Lebanon was pulled into the Middle East war on March 2 after Tehran-backed Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader. /dl