U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has urged staffers at the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem to leave today.
In an email sent out to staff at the U.S. embassy, Huckabee wrote, “Those wishing to take AD (Authorized Departure) should do so TODAY.”
Huckabee further wrote, “While there may be outbound flights over the coming days, there may not be.”
The Ambassador’s announcement comes as tension with Iran has increased in recent weeks, as the U.S. military has built up its largest force of warships and aircraft in the Middle East since the Iraq War.
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
Per AP:
The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem implemented “authorized departure” status for non-essential personnel and family members, which means that eligible staffers can leave the country voluntarily at government expense.
The U.S. Embassy in Israel on Friday told its staff that it could leave the country and urged anyone considering departure to do so immediately.
In an email U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee urged staff considering departure to do so quickly, advising them to to focus initially on getting any flight out of Israel and to then make their way to Washington.
“Those wishing to take AD should do so TODAY,” Huckabee wrote, using an acronym for “authorized departure.”
Huckabee’s statement came shortly after Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced he is scheduled to visit Israel on Monday regarding matters relating to Iran and the 20-Point Peace Plan for Gaza.
The U.S. Embassy is not the only embassy calling for its citizens to depart the region.
Reuters reported that China, on Friday, urged its citizens in Iran to evacuate immediately, citing escalating tensions between the United States and Iran.
Vice President JD Vance, on Thursday, told The Washington Post on the topic of potential armed conflict with Iran, shared, “I think we all prefer the diplomatic option, but it really depends on what the Iranians do and what they say.”
Last Thursday, President Trump threatened to escalate military tensions with Iran within the next ten days if they don’t make a deal regarding deconstructing their nuclear enrichment program.
The 10-day warning Trump gave will end on March 1.
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