By Emmanuel Bobby
The United States on Friday authorized some embassy staff and family members to leave Israel, urging those who wish to depart to do so immediately as fears of a potential American strike on Iran heighten tensions across the region.
In an email to staff, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told personnel that anyone choosing to leave should “do so TODAY.” The guidance, issued “out of an abundance of caution,” followed overnight meetings and calls that included discussions with the State Department.
“There is no need to panic,” the message said. “For those desiring to leave, it’s important to make plans to depart sooner rather than later.” Staff were also advised to book flights promptly, as demand for travel out of Israel was expected to surge following the embassy’s announcement.
The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem later confirmed in a public notice that non-emergency government personnel and eligible family members were authorized to depart due to unspecified “safety risks.” The step stops short of a mandatory evacuation, such as the ordered departure recently implemented for certain personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to travel to Israel on Monday to discuss “a range of regional priorities,” including Iran, the State Department said.
The developments come after the latest round of nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran concluded Thursday in Geneva without a clear breakthrough. President Donald Trump has overseen what officials describe as the largest U.S. military buildup in the Middle East in decades, raising speculation about possible military action.
Vice President JD Vance is set to meet Friday in Washington with Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, who has played a key mediating role in the nuclear discussions. The meeting is expected to include additional U.S. officials as deliberations continue over how the administration may proceed regarding Iran.
Iran has warned it would target American military bases in the region if attacked. Any escalation could also involve Israel, which fought a 12-day conflict with Iran in June, further intensifying regional instability.
Other nations are also taking precautions. Britain announced Friday that it had temporarily withdrawn U.K. staff from Iran due to the “ongoing security situation.” China advised its citizens to avoid traveling to Iran and urged those already there to leave as soon as possible. Its embassy in Israel called on Chinese nationals to strengthen security measures amid “rising security risks in the Middle East.”
Commercial air travel has also been affected. Dutch carrier KLM said it would suspend flights from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport.
Despite the tension, officials familiar with the Geneva negotiations described the most recent round as “positive” from the U.S. perspective. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi similarly characterized the indirect six-hour talks as constructive.
Al-Busaidi said on X that discussions ended with “significant progress in the negotiation” and that talks would resume soon after consultations in the respective capitals, with technical discussions expected next week in Vienna.
The coming days are expected to be critical as diplomatic efforts continue alongside mounting military and security concerns throughout the region.
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