The US Issues Urgent Message to Embassy Staff in Israel
ADDED NOTE: Iranian Attack Expected on Israel in Next Two Days - WSJ - It looks as if Iran has actually communicated with the US on its intentions. It is clear from news reports that Iran does NOT want a confrontation with the US.
Despite Iran's threats to retaliate against its regional adversary, the United States restricted its employees and their families from traveling outside the greater Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Be'er Sheva areas.
As tensions rise in a region already strained by the Gaza conflict, Iran has vowed revenge for the April 1 airstrike on its embassy compound in Damascus.
The US embassy announced on Thursday that, as a precaution, US government employees and their family members are prohibited from traveling outside Tel Aviv (including Herzliya, Netanya, and Even Yehuda), Jerusalem, and Be'er Sheva until further notice. However, US government employees are permitted to travel between these three areas for personal travel.
When Washington updates security measures in a country, it informs all American citizens via such warnings.
The US remains committed to maintaining its ally's security, US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday.
In response to a question about the security alert, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller noted Iran's public threats against Israel.
At a press briefing, Miller said, "We conduct ongoing assessments about the situation on the ground all the time." I will not speak to the specific assessments that led us to restrict our employee's and family members' travel. Still, we are monitoring the threat environment in the Middle East, specifically in Israel.
