The U.S. State Department announced Friday that it has evacuated non-emergency government personnel and their families from the American embassy in Israel, citing mounting safety risks as tensions with Iran continue to rise.
According to a press release from U.S. Embassy Jerusalem, the decision affects staff operating under the authority of the chief of mission security. The move underscores what officials described as an increasingly volatile security environment, with concerns about potential rocket fire and broader instability in the region.
The embassy warned that conditions in Israel — including in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv — remain unpredictable. In its statement, the embassy noted that it “may further restrict or prohibit U.S. government employees and their family members from traveling to certain areas of Israel, the Old City of Jerusalem, and the West Bank.”
The advisory also suggested that private citizens take precautions of their own. “Persons may wish to consider leaving Israel while commercial flights are available,” the embassy said in a statement posted on X.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee reportedly directed embassy staff to depart the country by Friday, according to The New York Times.
The evacuation comes amid growing speculation that a joint U.S.-Israeli military operation targeting Iran could be possible. Axios reported that, in the event of open conflict, Iran could retaliate by launching ballistic missiles at Israel as well as U.S. assets in the region.
President Donald Trump addressed the escalating standoff during his State of the Union address on Tuesday, making clear that while he prefers diplomacy, he is prepared to act decisively if necessary.
“My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy, but one thing is certain, I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror, which they are by far, to have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said.
The president has ordered an increased U.S. military presence in the Middle East as tensions build. Axios reported that Trump was briefed Thursday by U.S. Central Command Adm. Brad Cooper regarding the situation involving Iran.
Tehran, for its part, has issued its own warning. Iranian Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi said, according to Axios, “We do not seek to ignite wars, but we are not afraid of them, and we will vigorously defend our homeland and the interests of our people.”
The State Department’s decision to evacuate non-essential personnel signals just how seriously U.S. officials are taking the evolving threat landscape. While the administration continues to emphasize that it does not seek war, it is also making clear that it will not tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran or threats to American personnel and allies.
As diplomatic efforts continue, the evacuation highlights the fragile balance in the region — and the high stakes involved should tensions spiral further.
