American embassy staff in Israel are leaving the country. The U.S. ambassador urged them to depart "today." The State Department also urged U.S. citizens to leave Israel "while commercial flights are available." Is a war with Iran looming?
The U.S. State Department has announced that the auxiliary staff of the American embassy and family members of diplomats are leaving Israel. The decision, reported on the U.S. embassy's website, was made on February 27 "due to security threats." The State Department also noted that U.S. citizens may leave Israel "while commercial flights are available," as quoted by Meduza.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee sent a letter to staff stating that those permitted to leave Israel "should do so today," The New York Times reports. According to Huckabee, "there is no need to panic," but airline tickets should be booked as soon as possible.
The New York Times links the permission for embassy staff and their families to leave Israel with an impending strike on Iran.
U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to strike Iran if the country's authorities do not reach a deal with Washington regarding its nuclear program. On February 26, another round of negotiations between the U.S. and Iran took place in Geneva, which, as Axios reported, was viewed by the Trump administration as the last chance for diplomacy. The negotiations, CNN writes, concluded with an agreement to hold another "technical" meeting in early March.
