WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government authorized the departure of non-essential employees and family members from its embassy in Israel on Friday, citing security risks, as tensions escalate in the region. The move comes amid heightened rhetoric from the U.S. regarding potential military action against Iran, a key ally of which is Israel.
The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem issued an advisory stating that security incidents could lead to further restrictions on movement for American government personnel in Israel, the West Bank, and even the Old City of Jerusalem. The embassy advised those eligible to consider leaving while commercial flights remain available.
According to the New York Times, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee urged staff to depart “TODAY,” prioritizing securing flights out of the country.
The decision to allow departures follows recent threats by President Donald Trump to potentially strike Iran, and coincides with the deployment of a significant U.S. naval force to the area, including the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford, which was en route to Israeli waters as of Thursday.
While the embassy’s advisory doesn’t directly mention Iran, the timing suggests a connection to the escalating tensions. Indirect negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear program were held Thursday in Geneva, but a potential U.S. military intervention could derail those talks.
The move also comes as Americans’ sympathies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are shifting, according to a new Gallup poll.
The State Department has not specified the nature of the security risks prompting the authorized departure.
