The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem authorized the departure of “non-emergency U.S. government personnel and family members of U.S. government personnel to leave Israel.”
“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. Persons may wish to consider leaving Israel while commercial flights are available,” a release read.
The embassy listed the following alerts:
Reconsider Travel To:
- Israel due to terrorism and civil unrest
- West Bank due to terrorism and civil unrest
Do Not Travel To:
- Gaza due to terrorism and armed conflict and within 11.3 km/7 miles of the Gaza Periphery
- Northern Israel within 4 kilometers/2.5 miles of the Lebanese and Syrian borders due to continued military presence and activity
- The Egyptian border within 2.4km/1.5 miles, except for the Taba crossing, which is open
On February 27, 2026, 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.
In response to security incidents and without advance notice, the U.S.… pic.twitter.com/aWzX6Gk36x
— U.S. Embassy Jerusalem (@usembassyjlm) February 27, 2026
NBC News explained further:
The message, conveyed in an email from Ambassador Mike Huckabee that was sent to the U.S. mission, instructed those wishing to leave to “do so TODAY.” NBC News has seen the email, which was first reported by The New York Times.
The guidance was issued out of “an abundance of caution” after meetings and calls through the night, including conversations with the State Department, Huckabee said in the email.
“There is no need to panic,” the email read. “For those desiring to leave, it’s important to make plans to depart sooner rather than later.”
He also urged anyone intending to leave to go ahead and book flights, citing the likely surge in demand out of Israel after the embassy’s move.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Israel early next week as tensions build between the United States and Iran.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Israel next week amid heightened regional tensions and growing speculation over potential US military action against Iran. pic.twitter.com/PPfHlwuIIw
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) February 27, 2026
More from the Associated Press:
U.S. Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to meet later Friday in Washington with Oman’s foreign minister, Badr al-Busaidi, who has been mediating during the talks, according to a person with knowledge of the meeting who spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting is private.
Earlier, al-Busaidi said that there had been significant progress made on Thursday, though officials from Iran and the United States haven’t announced steps forward.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday offered no specifics, but said “what needs to happen has been clearly spelled out from our side.”
According to a confidential report by the International Atomic Agency circulated to member states and seen Friday by The Associated Press, Iran hasn’t granted the U.N. nuclear watchdog access to its nuclear facilities affected by the 12-day war in June, and as a result can’t confirm whether or not Iran has stopped its enrichment or the size of its stockpile.
Airlines such as Netherlands-based KLM have already announced plans to suspend flights out of Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport, and other embassies have also made plans for authorized departures from Israel and neighboring countries.
Meanwhile, Britain’s Foreign Office said that “due to the security situation, U.K. staff have been temporarily withdrawn from Iran.” It said that the embassy was operating remotely.