The U.S. State Department has initiated the evacuation of non-emergency personnel and family members from its embassy in Israel due to escalating safety concerns linked to rising tensions with Iran, reports Baltimore Chronicle via Axios. The move follows a similar evacuation of non-essential staff from the U.S. embassy in Beirut earlier this week, amid fears that any military strike against Iran could trigger a broader regional conflict, potentially drawing in Israel and Hezbollah.
The evacuation specifically affects personnel not directly involved in diplomatic, military, intelligence, political, or citizen-assistance operations. Ambassador Mike Huckabee encouraged embassy staff who wished to depart to do so while commercial flights remain available, assuring that core embassy functions will continue to operate without interruption.
President Trump, in his State of the Union address on February 24, emphasized a preference for diplomatic engagement with Iran, while simultaneously outlining potential scenarios for military confrontation. The top U.S. military commander in the Middle East, Adm. Brad Cooper, briefed the president on Thursday regarding possible military strategies, marking the first such briefing since the escalation of tensions began last December. This briefing coincided with a broader U.S. military buildup in the region, signaling that a final decision regarding Iran could be imminent.
Despite recent statements by U.S., Iranian, and Omani officials portraying nuclear negotiations in Geneva as constructive, the evacuation and military preparations underscore the high stakes and uncertainty surrounding the situation. Iranian Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi warned that any “unwise American action will lead to a widespread fire in the region” and confirmed that U.S. targets could fall within the range of Iranian missiles. He stressed that while Iran does not seek conflict, it is prepared to defend its homeland and national interests vigorously.
Earlier we wrote that Ukraine to meet Trump envoys in Geneva to plan postwar recovery and prisoner swap
