The US government has started helping its citizens leave Israel. The US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, said on Wednesday that the embassy is arranging flights and cruise ships for Americans who want to leave. This comes as fears grow that the US may soon strike Iran.
To leave through these emergency plans, Americans must sign up using the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. This program lets the embassy know who needs help during a crisis.
Before this announcement, the US Embassy in Jerusalem said there were no plans to help citizens leave Israel. That message was posted just nine hours earlier. However, the embassy did say the US government is always ready to help in case of emergencies.
This change in plans happened after days of hints from President Donald Trump and his team. They have been considering joining the Israel-Iran conflict. The US might help bomb Iran’s underground nuclear sites, which Israel cannot destroy on its own.
Israel says these attacks are necessary to stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons. Iran insists it only has a peaceful nuclear program and denies trying to build bombs.
On Wednesday, Trump told reporters he hasn’t yet decided whether to strike Iran. “Nobody knows what I’m going to do,” he said.
In response, Iran’s top leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned the US. He said the US would suffer serious and permanent damage if it joined the fighting. He posted this message on X, formerly Twitter.
