The United States has evacuated some embassy employees and their family members from Israel using U.S. military aircraft, CNN reports.
Although no full evacuation order has been issued for the U.S. Embassy in Israel, those who departed did so under voluntary departure authorization granted over the weekend amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran.
According to one CNN source, some individuals also left Israel via land routes to Jordan.
“In light of the current situation and as part of the embassy’s authorized departure status, mission personnel have begun to leave Israel through various means,” a U.S. embassy official told CNN.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, said Wednesday that the U.S. is working to arrange evacuation flights and sea departures for Americans who wish to leave the country.
On Tuesday, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce announced the formation of a dedicated 24-hour task force to manage the ongoing crisis and provide support to U.S. citizens in the region.
