U.S. embassy in Israel restricts travel for employees amid Iran threat – National | 24CA News
The United States stated on Thursday it had restricted its staff in Israel and their relations from private journey outdoors the higher Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Be’er Sheva areas amid Iran’s threats to retaliate in opposition to its regional adversary.
Iran has vowed revenge for the April 1 airstrike on its embassy compound in Damascus, ratcheting up stress in a area already strained by the Gaza battle.
“Out of an abundance of caution, U.S. government employees and their family members are restricted from personal travel outside the greater Tel Aviv (including Herzliya, Netanya, and Even Yehuda), Jerusalem, and Be’er Sheva areas until further notice,” the U.S. embassy stated in a safety alert on its web site on Thursday. “U.S. government personnel are authorized to transit between these three areas for personal travel.”
Washington has a coverage of informing all American residents through such warnings when it updates safety measures for its personnel in a rustic.
U.S. President Joe Biden stated on Wednesday Iran was threatening to launch a “significant attack in Israel,” and that the U.S. remained dedicated to its ally’s safety.
Asked concerning the safety alert, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller famous that Iran had been making public threats towards Israel.
“We conduct ongoing assessments all the time about the situation on the ground,” Miller stated at a press briefing. “I’m not going to speak to the specific assessments that led to us to restrict our employees’ and family members’ personal travel, but clearly we are monitoring the threat environment in the Middle East and specifically in Israel.”
Reporting by Simon Lewis; Editing by Sandra Maler
