US evacuates diplomats from Israel amid Iran tensions

The US State Department has begun evacuating nonessential diplomatic staff and their families from the American embassy in Israel as the conflict between Israel and Iran intensifies. President Donald Trump has also issued warnings about the potential for direct US military involvement in the region.

According to two US officials speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the situation, a government aircraft transported several diplomats and their family members out of Israel on Wednesday. The exact number of individuals on the flight was not disclosed, nor was there confirmation of how many others may have left by land to neighboring Jordan or Egypt, reports AP.

The evacuation flight took place just before US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee announced on social media platform X that the embassy was preparing plans to evacuate private American citizens using both air and sea routes.

However, shortly after Huckabee’s statement, the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs posted a contradictory message on X, stating that there were “no announcements about assisting private U.S. citizens to depart at this time” from Israel or the Palestinian territories.

The department did not clarify the conflicting messages but responded to inquiries by saying it is evaluating all possible options and will inform the American community if any new departure plans are confirmed. It added that it is currently providing information to US citizens on available routes out of Israel and strongly advised them to leave the country as soon as it is safe.

Regarding the diplomats, the State Department earlier said that, due to the deteriorating security situation and under the embassy’s “authorised departure” policy, mission personnel were beginning to exit Israel through various means. Under this policy, nonessential staff and all diplomatic family members are permitted to leave at the US government’s expense.

The evacuations, recent White House statements, and the deployment of US military aircraft and naval vessels in and around the Middle East have fueled concerns that the United States may become more deeply involved in a broader regional conflict.

On Wednesday, President Trump warned that while he does not want the United States to launch an attack on Iran, he is prepared to take action if required, particularly in relation to Iran’s nuclear program. He has increasingly signaled support for aligning with Israel should military engagement become necessary.

In parallel, the State Department has intensified its advisories to US citizens in Israel and other parts of the region, including Iraq. Last week, prior to Israel’s initial airstrikes on Iran, the department and the Pentagon issued notifications stating that all nonessential personnel at the US embassy in Baghdad had been ordered to depart. Additionally, the Defense Department authorized the voluntary departure of military dependents stationed across various Middle Eastern locations.

These alerts have become more urgent as the conflict escalates. Over the past weekend, the US embassy in Jerusalem authorized nonessential personnel and families to leave and instructed all remaining staff to shelter in place until further notice. The embassy has remained closed since Monday and is expected to stay shut through Friday.