The US has authorized the departure of non-essential embassy personnel from Israel as Ambassador Mike Huckabee urged staff to leave immediately amid a major military buildup and stalling nuclear talks with Iran.
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told embassy staff in an email on Friday that if they want to leave the country amid the possibility of a strike on Iran they “should do so TODAY,” according to a source familiar with the message.
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In a move reflecting heightened regional instability, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee informed embassy staff on Friday that those wishing to depart the country should do so “TODAY,” citing the urgent need to secure commercial travel before flights potentially become unavailable. While Huckabee maintained there was “no reason to panic” and described the authorized departure as an act of “an abundance of caution,” the announcement followed the State Department’s formal authorization for non-emergency personnel and families to leave “due to safety risks” associated with a possible military strike on Iran.
This diplomatic withdrawal coincides with a significant American military buildup, including the arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group and F-22 fighter jets in the region, even as Omani-mediated nuclear negotiations between US envoys and Tehran remain deadlocked over demands for the total dismantlement of Iran’s primary nuclear facilities.
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