US ambassador urges embassy staff to leave Israel immediately

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, on February 27, has instructed embassy personnel in Jerusalem to leave the country immediately if they wish, citing security concerns.

In an email to mission staff, Huckabee wrote that those intending to depart “should do so TODAY” and advised booking flights from Ben Gurion Airport as soon as possible, according to The New York Times.

The embassy has shifted to “authorised departure” status, allowing non-essential personnel and their families to leave at government expense. Huckabee noted that the measure was taken out of “an abundance of caution” following consultations with the State Department.

“There is no need to panic,” he wrote, while emphasising the importance of planning departures as soon as possible.

The warning comes amid rising tensions over the potential for a US strike on Iran. In the event of military action, Israel could face retaliatory measures from Iran or its allies.

Earlier, the US State Department issued travel guidance allowing non-essential US government personnel to leave Israel due to security threats.

By Jeyhun Aghazada