US helped Americans leave Israel with flights over weekend
The seal of the United States Department of State is seen in Washington, U.S., January 26, 2017. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts
WASHINGTON - The United States helped around 170 U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents and their immediate family members leave Israel on Saturday and Sunday, a U.S. State Department official said on Monday.
The assisted departures from Israel come as tensions have risen in the Middle East, after U.S. President Donald Trump joined Israel's air war against Tehran by dropping massive bunker-buster bombs on Iranian nuclear production sites on Sunday morning. Since then, Iran has repeatedly threatened to retaliate.
Iran's military said it carried out a missile attack on the Al Udeid U.S. airbase in Qatar on Monday after explosions were heard across the Qatari capital following Tehran's threat to retaliate for U.S. airstrikes on its nuclear sites.
The State Department official said that on Sunday three flights departed Israel with approximately 100 U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents and their accompanying immediate family members.
The assisted departure flights began on Saturday, when the official said the State Department organized two flights that departed from Tel Aviv to Athens with approximately 70 U.S. citizens, their accompanying immediate family members, and lawful permanent residents. REUTERS
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