US helped Americans leave Israel with flights over weekend
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
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
43 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Nigeria's defence chief defends military conduct amid scrutiny
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Nigeria's Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa speaks during a meeting where the Nigerian Navy announced the arrest of 76 vessels over oil theft in two years, at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, June 19, 2025. REUTERS/Marvellous Durowaiye/File Photo ABUJA - Nigeria's defence chief has defended operations against insurgents and criminal gangs that have caused civilian casualties, saying the military is doing what it can to prevent loss of life. Nigeria's military has increasingly used airstrikes against the growing threat of militias in the north and central regions. It has admitted to mistakenly targeting civilians while pursuing armed gangs in the northwest, where there is widespread insecurity, and has promised to investigate such cases. Defence Chief of Staff General Christopher Musa also called for a review of international laws, arguing that they restrict state forces while leaving non-state actors "who kill at will" unchecked. In rare comments to reporters in the capital Abuja on Wednesday, Musa said the military frequently halts operations to prevent civilian harm, even at the cost of compromising tactical advantages. "We are made to look as if we are committing the worst atrocities ever, but I can assure you that we are doing the best we can. We respect human rights and value civilian lives," he said. "We often abort operations to avoid civilian casualties ... this has, in part, prolonged the conflict." The remarks come after growing scrutiny of Nigeria's counterinsurgency operations and accusations by rights groups that the military has used excessive force. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Jalan Bukit Merah fire: PMD battery could have started fatal blaze, says SCDF Singapore 4 housebreaking suspects taken to Bukit Timah crime scene under police escort Asia AirAsia flight from KL to Incheon lands at the wrong airport in South Korea Asia Strong India-Singapore ties key to economic growth amid 'volatile landscape': DPM Gan Singapore Reformative training for teen who cheated man of $47k Rolex watch on former stepdad's instructions Asia Malaysian MP Rafizi says his son was jabbed with syringe in planned attack, threatened with Aids Asia Citizenship for foreign talent: How this footballer from Brazil became Vietnam's favourite 'Son' Singapore From quiet introvert to self-confident student: How this vulnerable, shy teen gets help to develop and discover her strength But there are frustrations within Nigeria's armed forces, where many believe they are being judged against higher standards than comparable forces in more developed countries. They also say too little account is taken of the difficulties of fighting informal armed Islamist insurgents or criminal gangs who operate entirely among civilians. The general cited ongoing training in human rights and international humanitarian law for military personnel, both locally and abroad, as evidence of progress. REUTERS
Straits Times
43 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Could Silicon Valley's Indian CEOs get the Intel treatment?
The Indian diaspora in the US should not look at Intel Corp CEO Tan Lip-Bu's attempts to win over US President Donald Trump with satisfaction or superiority as they might be next, says the writer. According to US President Donald Trump, the rise of Intel CEO Tan Lip-Bu is 'an amazing story'. That is as much payoff as Mr Tan can expect from his emergency meeting with Mr Trump, who last week had demanded he 'resign, immediately' because he was 'highly conflicted'. We do not know if Intel will be able to convince the administration to view its CEO with less disfavour. Some in Washington are concerned about the Malaysian-born Tan's long history supporting and investing in the Chinese tech sector. And questions about how Intel intends to live up to government controls on the export of high-end technology under his leadership are, given this history, not unreasonable.
Straits Times
43 minutes ago
- Straits Times
War crimes likely committed by both sides in Syria sectarian violence, UN commission says
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: A drone view shows the predominantly Druze city of Sweida, following deadly clashes between Druze fighters, Sunni Bedouin tribes and government forces, in Syria July 25, 2025. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi/File Photo GENEVA - War crimes were likely committed by members of interim government forces as well as by fighters loyal to Syria's former rulers during an outbreak of sectarian violence in Syria's coastal areas that culminated in a series of March massacres, a U.N. team of investigators found in a report on Thursday. Some 1,400 people, mainly civilians, were reported killed during the violence that primarily targeted Alawi communities, and reports of violations continue, according to a report by the U.N. Syria Commission of Inquiry. "The scale and brutality of the violence documented in our report is deeply disturbing," said Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, Chair of the Commission, in a statement released alongside the report. Torture, killings and inhumane acts related to the treatment of the dead were documented by the U.N. team which based its research on more than 200 interviews with victims and witnesses as well as visits to mass grave sites. The incidents in the coastal region were the worst violence to hit Syria since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad last year, prompting the interim government to name a fact-finding committee. There was no immediate public comment in response to the report from interim authorities nor from former Syrian officials, many of whom have left the country. A Reuters investigation last month found nearly 1,500 Syrian Alawites - the minority sect of Assad - had been killed and identified a chain of command from the attackers directly to men who serve alongside Syria's new leaders. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Jalan Bukit Merah fire: PMD battery could have started fatal blaze, says SCDF Singapore 4 housebreaking suspects taken to Bukit Timah crime scene under police escort Asia AirAsia flight from KL to Incheon lands at the wrong airport in South Korea Asia Strong India-Singapore ties key to economic growth amid 'volatile landscape': DPM Gan Singapore Reformative training for teen who cheated man of $47k Rolex watch on former stepdad's instructions Asia Malaysian MP Rafizi says his son was jabbed with syringe in planned attack, threatened with Aids Asia Citizenship for foreign talent: How this footballer from Brazil became Vietnam's favourite 'Son' Singapore From quiet introvert to self-confident student: How this vulnerable, shy teen gets help to develop and discover her strength New Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has previously denounced the violence as a threat to his mission to unite the country and promised to punish those responsible. The commission acknowledged in its report the commitment of Syria's interim authorities to identify those responsible but said the scale of the violence warranted further steps. REUTERS
