Topline
The U.S. Embassy in Israel told staffers to leave “sooner rather than later” Friday as President Donald Trump weighs a possible attack on Iran, coinciding with a build up of military forces in the region.
US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee (L) speaks to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) at the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, on October 13, 2025 in Jerusalem. (Photo by Saul Loeb – Pool/Getty Images)
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Key Facts
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told staff if they want to leave, they should “do so TODAY,” adding, “there is no need to panic” and the directive was issued out of “an abundance of caution,” according to multiple reports.
Citing “terrorism and civil unrest,” the State Department also issued a travel advisory Friday urging Americans to “reconsider travel” to Israel and the West Bank, and the U.S. embassy in Lebanon also ordered all non-emergency personnel and their families to leave on Monday.
Israel could be a target for retaliation from Iran if the U.S. attacks.
Huckabee said the U.S. government would pay for embassy staffers and their families to leave under an “authorized departure” classification, which occurs when “U.S. national interests or imminent threat to life require it,” reports said.
The directive comes as the U.S. urges Iran to enter into a new agreement to scale back its nuclear program.
No solution has been announced as officials from both countries have held several rounds of talks over the past two weeks, with the latest negotiations ending Thursday.
Crucial Quote
“The idea that we’re going to be in a Middle Eastern war for years with no end in sight—there is no chance this will happen,” Vice President JD Vance told the Washington Post on Thursday. Vance said he does not know what Trump will do, but added, “I think we all prefer the diplomatic option, but it really depends on what the Iranians do and what they say.”
Key Background
The U.S. has built up its largest military presence near Iran since the Iraq war over the past several weeks as Trump warns he could authorize strikes if Tehran doesn’t agree to enhanced limitations on its nuclear program. It’s unclear if the attacks would also be designed to topple the Iranian regime—which Trump said earlier this month “would be the best thing that could happen.”
Tangent
Huckabee controversially suggested in an interview with Tucker Carlson last week Israel has the right to take over much of the Middle East. Huckabee told Carlson “it would be fine if it took it all,” in response to Carlson’s question about whether Israel had the right to occupy “essentially the entire Middle East.” Huckabee added “I don’t think that’s what we’re talking about here today . . . they don’t want to take it over, they’re not asking to take it over.” The comments prompted backlash from Arab and Muslim countries and contradicted Trump’s promises to Arab and Muslim countries that he would not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. The U.S. Embassy in Israel said Huckabee’s comments were taken out of context, Politico reported, and Huckabee has attacked Carlson for his “ridiculous” line of questioning in posts on X.
Further Reading
Trump Says He’s ‘Considering’ More Limited Iran Strike As Negotiating Tactic (Forbes)
Trump Warns Iran Of ‘Bad Things’ As U.S. Troop Buildup Hits Middle East (Forbes)
Trump Says Iran Death Toll Over 30,000 While Considering Military Strikes (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2026/02/27/us-israeli-embassy-urges-staff-to-evacuate-amid-threat-of-iran-attack/
