ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The United States and China on Friday urged citizens to consider leaving Israel and Iran, citing security risks as tensions escalate in the region and diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran continue without agreement.
The US Embassy in Jerusalem said in a statement that “the Department of State authorized the departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and family members of U.S. government personnel from Mission Israel due to safety risks.”
The announcement comes as the United States has deployed warships and fighter jets in what is described as the largest military buildup in the Middle East in decades. Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to strike Iran if talks fail, while Tehran has previously employed aggressive tactics, including blocking a key international waterway during earlier rounds of negotiations.
It added that “In response to security incidents and without advance notice, the U.S. Embassy 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.