2 days ago
KY man in Jerusalem sees flight home canceled as Israel-Iran fighting breaks out
A Kentucky man was listening to sirens and alarms in Jerusalem on Friday night, as fighting between Israel and Iran flares in the Middle East.
Tommy Chamberlin, of Pikeville, has been on an archaeological dig in Israel and was supposed to catch a flight back to Kentucky on Saturday morning. He said, though, his flight was canceled because of the conflict.
Chamberlin texted with a Herald-Leader reporter via Facebook Messenger on Friday night — early Saturday morning in Jerusalem.
He asked for prayers as Iran launched missile attacks against Israel.
'It's been mostly calm here in Jerusalem, but tonight there's been a series of rocket sirens,' he wrote. 'I am thankful for Israel's iron dome system and pray I can get a way out to get home to my family soon.
'Generally we feel very safe here, but this is a difficult unexpected situation.'
The Associated Press reported that buildings in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv shook and explosions that might have been from Israeli interceptors boomed overhead as Iran launched ballistic missiles in response to attacks by Israel on Iran late Friday and early Saturday.
Chamberlin, who works as chief assistant Pike County attorney, said he was in a hotel in Jerusalem.
While he said he has not seen any fighting and had felt safe while working in Israel, the missile attacks occurring early Saturday morning were unsettling.
'I'm ready to get out of the country as soon as possible,' he wrote.
Chamberlin said he hoped to make his way to Jordan on Sunday morning 'when the border crossings open.'
He said he planned to travel with a film crew that he knows that is also there.
Once in Jordan, he said, 'the plan is to wait for a flight from Amman airport to open.'
Chamberlin said he was in Israel to work at an archaeological excavation sponsored by Associates for Biblical Research at Tel Shiloh.
Shiloh is an ancient city north of Jerusalem that served as a center for Israelite worship before the temple was built.
Chamberlin said there were many other Americans working on the dig as well, including two other Kentuckians.
Since May 31, he has shared videos on social media from Israel in conjunction with the nonprofit Expedition Archaeology, pointing out sites and artifacts that figure significantly in the Bible.
Chamberlin said this is his sixth season of archaeological excavation in Israel.
Israel's attack on Iranian nuclear sites and military leaders on Friday killed 78 people and left 320 injured, according to The Wall Street Journal citing an Iranian official.
The return strike by Iran injured 34 people in Tel Aviv, according to The Wall Street Journal. At least one person had died in Israel, The New York Times reported.
