Topline<\/p>\n
The U.S. Embassy in Israel told staffers to leave \u201csooner rather than later\u201d Friday as President Donald Trump weighs a possible attack on Iran, coinciding with a build up of military forces in the region. <\/p>\n
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)<\/p>\n
Getty ImagesKey Facts<\/p>\n
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told staff if they want to leave, they should \u201cdo so TODAY,\u201d adding, \u201cthere is no need to panic\u201d and the directive was issued out of \u201can abundance of caution,\u201d according to multiple<\/a> reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n Citing \u201cterrorism and civil unrest,\u201d the State Department also issued a travel advisory Friday urging Americans to \u201creconsider travel\u201d 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.<\/p>\n Israel could be a target for retaliation from Iran if the U.S. attacks. <\/p>\n Huckabee said the U.S. government would pay for embassy staffers and their families to leave under an \u201cauthorized departure\u201d classification, which occurs when \u201cU.S. national interests or imminent threat to life require it,\u201d reports said. <\/p>\n The directive comes as the U.S. urges Iran to enter into a new agreement to scale back its nuclear program.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Crucial Quote<\/p>\n \u201cThe idea that we\u2019re going to be in a Middle Eastern war for years with no end in sight\u2014there is no chance this will happen,\u201d Vice President JD Vance told the Washington Post<\/a> on Thursday. Vance said he does not know what Trump will do, but added, \u201cI think we all prefer the diplomatic option, but it really depends on what the Iranians do and what they say.\u201d<\/p>\n Key Background<\/p>\n 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\u2019t agree to enhanced limitations on its nuclear program. It\u2019s unclear if the attacks would also be designed to topple the Iranian regime\u2014which Trump said earlier this month \u201cwould be the best thing that could happen.\u201d <\/p>\n Tangent<\/p>\n 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 \u201cit would be fine if it took it all,\u201d in response to Carlson\u2019s question about whether Israel had the right to occupy \u201cessentially the entire Middle East.\u201d Huckabee added \u201cI don\u2019t think that\u2019s what we\u2019re talking about here today . . . they don\u2019t want to take it over, they\u2019re not asking to take it over.\u201d The comments prompted backlash from Arab and Muslim countries and contradicted<\/a> Trump\u2019s 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\u2019s comments were taken out of context, Politico reported<\/a>, and Huckabee has attacked<\/a> Carlson for his \u201cridiculous\u201d line of questioning in posts on X.<\/p>\n Further Reading<\/p>\n Trump Says He\u2019s \u2018Considering\u2019 More Limited Iran Strike As Negotiating Tactic<\/a> (Forbes)<\/p>\n