By SAM MEDNICK and SAM METZ
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The U.S. Embassy in Israel on Friday told its staff that it could leave the country and urged anyone considering departure to do so immediately, as the threat of an American strike on Iran looms.
U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee told embassy employees in an email that discussions with officials in Washington had led to a decision authorizing departures for those who wished to leave.
Related Articles
Deposed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro asks judge to toss out indictment against him Republican voter ID bill stalls in Senate despite Trump demands NTSB chair slams House aviation bill as ‘watered-down’ after 67 deaths near Washington Cuba says 8 World Baseball Classic delegation members denied US visas Melania Trump will preside over a UN Security Council meeting in a first for a first ladyThe email was recounted to The Associated Press by someone involved with the U.S. mission who wasn’t authorized to share details. Sent before 10:30 a.m., it urged staff considering departure to do so quickly, advising them to to focus initially on getting any flight out of Israel and to then make their way to Washington.
“Those wishing to take AD should do so TODAY,” Huckabee wrote, using an acronym for “authorized departure.”
“While there may be outbound flights over the coming days, there may not be,” he added.
Huckabee said that there was no need for panic, but for those desiring to leave, it was important to make plans soon.
The email came a day after Iran and the United States walked away from nuclear negotiations without a deal. Airlines such as Netherlands-based KLM have already announced plans to suspend flights out of Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport, and other embassies have also made plans for authorized departures from Israel and neighboring countries.
Australia on Wednesday “directed the departure of all dependents of Australian officials posted to Israel in response to the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East.” India and several European countries with missions in Iran advised citizens to avoid travel to the country as well.
On a town hall meeting Friday after the email was sent, Huckabee told staff that he was encouraging airlines to keep flying.
The departure authorizations signal a new level of contingency planning as a massive fleet of U.S. aircraft and warships mass in the Middle East.
Badr al-Busaidi, Oman’s foreign minister who is mediating in the negotiations, said that there had been significant progress made on Thursday, though officials from Iran and the United States haven’t announced steps forward.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday offered no specifics but said “what needs to happen has been clearly spelled out from our side.”
Metz reported from Ramallah, West Bank.
Hence then, the article about us advises embassy staff in israel to leave now if they want as risk of war hangs over middle east was published today ( ) and is available on Los Angeles Daily News ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( US advises embassy staff in Israel to leave now if they want, as risk of war hangs over Middle East )
Also on site :