Latest news with #SmartTraveler
Straits Times
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
US working to evacuate citizens wishing to leave Israel, ambassador says
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee speaks at an event at the Knesset, Israel's parliament, as part of Jerusalem day celebrations and in honour of all the countries that moved their embassies to Jerusalem May 28, 2025 REUTERS/Steven Scheer/File photo US working to evacuate citizens wishing to leave Israel, ambassador says WASHINGTON - The United States is working to evacuate U.S. citizens wishing to leave Israel by arranging flights and cruise ship departures, U.S. ambassador Mike Huckabee said in a post on X on Wednesday, as fears mount of further military escalation between Iran and Israel. The U.S. embassy in Jerusalem was working on the evacuation arrangements, Huckabee said, urging Americans in the country to sign up for updates through the State Department's Smart Traveler program. "Urgent notice! American citizens wanting to leave Israel- US Embassy in Israel @usembassyjlm is working on evacuation flights & cruise ship departures. You must enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)," Huckabee wrote. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It was unclear how many Americans were seeking to depart Israel or whether the U.S. military would assist with the evacuation flights. U.S. President Donald Trump has veered from proposing a swift diplomatic end to the five-day-old war between Iran and Israel to suggesting the United States might join it. Since Friday, Iran has fired around 400 missiles at Israel, of which 40 have pierced air defences, killing 24 people, all of them civilians, according to Israeli authorities. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
New York Post
10 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Post
US working to organize evacuation ships, flights for Americans in Israel as embassy closes for next three days
The United States was working to organize evacuation routes for Americans in Israel — as the Jewish state and Iran continued to fire barrages of missiles at each other. It comes after the embassy revealed it would be shut from Wednesday through Friday in order to comply with Israeli guidance. The US Embassy in Jerusalem was working on the evacuation arrangements, US Ambassador Mike Huckabee announced in a post on X. 3 Passengers who had left Israel on Tuesday aboard the Crown Iris cruise ship. REUTERS 3 Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said the US Embassy was working on evacuation arrangements. AFP via Getty Images Huckabee urged US citizens still in Israel to sign up for updates through the State Department's Smart Traveler program as tensions mounted. 3 Birthright Israel evacuated approximately 1,500 program participants earlier today aboard the Crown Iris. Erez Uzir, courtesy of Birthright Israel The warnings came as intense Israeli airstrikes continued to pummel Iran's capital early Wednesday — a day after President Trump demanded 'unconditional surrender' from the Islamic Republic's leaders.
