US Embassy in Israel Begins Evacuations Amid Rising Tensions with Iran
Evacuations Underway as Tensions Escalate
Washington: The U.S. State Department has initiated the evacuation of nonessential diplomats and their families from the embassy in Israel as tensions with Iran escalate. President Donald Trump has indicated the potential for direct U.S. involvement in the ongoing conflict.
A government aircraft facilitated the departure of several diplomats and their relatives who requested to leave the region on Wednesday, according to two U.S. officials who chose to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of the situation.
Details regarding the exact number of evacuees or those who may have exited via land routes to Jordan or Egypt remain unclear.
This evacuation flight coincided with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee's announcement on social media that plans were being made for the evacuation of private American citizens by both air and sea.
However, shortly after Huckabee's post, the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs clarified via Twitter that there were no current plans to assist private U.S. citizens in leaving Israel or the Palestinian territories.
The State Department did not address the conflicting messages but stated that it is exploring all options and will inform U.S. citizens if new information regarding departure options becomes available.
Additionally, the department is providing guidance on exit routes for Americans wishing to leave independently and has urged them to do so as soon as it is safe.
Earlier, the State Department indicated that due to the current situation, embassy personnel have begun to leave Israel through various means as part of the authorized departure status.
This 'authorized departure' allows nonessential staff and their families to exit at government expense.
The ongoing evacuations, along with statements from the White House and the repositioning of U.S. military assets in the region, have raised concerns about a potential escalation of U.S. involvement in a conflict that could lead to a broader regional war.
Trump has issued increasingly direct warnings regarding the possibility of U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, stating on Wednesday that while he does not wish to engage in military action against the Islamic Republic, he is prepared to do so if deemed necessary.
The State Department has also intensified its advisories to American citizens in Israel and the surrounding region, including Iraq.
Last week, prior to Israel's initial strikes on Iran, both the State Department and the Pentagon issued notices instructing the U.S. embassy in Baghdad to evacuate all nonessential personnel and authorized the voluntary departure of military dependents from various locations in the Middle East.
As the conflict has escalated, the embassy in Jerusalem authorized the departure of nonessential staff and their families over the weekend, instructing remaining personnel to shelter in place until further notice.
The embassy has been closed since Monday and will remain shut until Friday.