The United States Embassy in Israel has directed its non-emergency personnel and their families to leave Israel amid escalating tensions over a possible U.S. military strike on Iran.
According to a report by The New York Times, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee informed embassy staff in an email on Friday that those wishing to depart were authorised to do so immediately. The embassy in Jerusalem later confirmed the development in a post on X.
In the message, Huckabee urged staff to act without delay. “Those wishing to leave should do so TODAY,” he reportedly wrote, advising them to secure seats on flights departing from Ben-Gurion Airport to any available destination as a first step toward returning to Washington, D.C.
“The embassy’s move will likely result in high demand for airline seats today,” Huckabee cautioned, stressing that the immediate priority was to exit the country expeditiously before making onward travel arrangements.
The precautionary measure comes as Washington continues to bolster its military presence in the Middle East, deploying additional aircraft carriers, warships, fighter jets and air defence systems in recent weeks.
Last Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly issued Tehran a 10–15-day ultimatum to reach an agreement over its nuclear programme or face potential military action. He insisted that Iran must agree to what he described as a meaningful deal.
However, following indirect talks in Geneva on Thursday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that while “good progress” had been made regarding nuclear issues and sanctions relief, significant differences remained unresolved. He added that further discussions were expected to resume within a week.
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Tehran has warned of severe retaliation in the event of a U.S. attack. Iranian officials have stated that American bases and assets across the region would be considered legitimate targets if hostilities break out.
On Thursday, a spokesman for Iran’s Armed Forces cautioned Washington against what he described as “unwise actions,” warning of consequences “never experienced before in history.”
The U.S. State Department has also issued travel advisories urging American citizens to reconsider travel to Israel and the West Bank, alongside similar warnings for other parts of the Middle East.
Earlier this week, the U.S. embassy in Lebanon asked non-emergency personnel and their families to depart.
Other countries are taking similar steps. Australia on Wednesday instructed the families of its diplomats in Israel and Lebanon to leave as a precaution.
While no military action has been announced, the evacuation advisories underscore the heightened uncertainty in the region, as diplomatic efforts continue alongside mounting security preparations.