State Dept Starts Exit Flights From Israel as Trump Mulls War Entry
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The U.S. State Department has begun "assisted departure flights" for U.S. citizens and lawful residents out of Israel, according to a notice issued Saturday.
The move comes as President Donald Trump is expected to meet with his National Security Council on Saturday evening to discuss the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict.
Newsweek has reached out to the State Department for comment via email on Saturday. The U.S. embassy in Israel directed Newsweek to the State Department's media inquiry form.
Why It Matters
Over the past few days, the conflict between Israel and Iran has escalated dramatically, with Trump calling for the evacuation of Tehran, Iran's capital city home to over 9.5 million people.
Israel initially struck Tehran and several other cities in "Operation Rising Lion," a campaign it said was meant to preempt a planned Iranian attack and disrupt Iran's nuclear capabilities.
Iran, which has said its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, has since retaliated, though Israeli defense systems—bolstered by U.S. military technology—have intercepted about 99 percent of incoming missile fire, according to Israeli officials in Saturday morning in an X, formerly Twitter, post. Iran hit a hospital in southern Israel on Thursday, and local reports noted that buildings in Tel Aviv were on fire from Iranian missiles on Friday.
The U.S. is Israel's closest ally, providing billions of dollars in military aid annually. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday that Trump is expected to make a decision about whether to directly support Israel in its attacks against Iran within the next two weeks.
What To Know
The State Department on Saturday issued a notice with information for U.S. citizens and lawful residents in Iran and Israel on how to leave the countries.
It said, "The Department of State has begun assisted departure flights from Israel," but did not provide further details, including the number or origin of the flights. The State Department has not responded to Newsweek's request for comment as of Saturday afternoon.
The government hasn't offered such flights since the beginning of the war between Hamas and Israel that started on October 7, 2023.
Individuals seeking U.S. government assistance to depart, should complete the crisis intake form on the State Department's website. Duplicate requests may cause delays, so people are encouraged to file it once.
"U.S. citizens seeking to depart Israel or the West Bank should take the first available option, even if it is not your first choice of destination," the notice stated.
It addressed that there are third parties assisting people to leave Israel via land borders to Jordan and Egypt as well as by sea to Cyprus.
"While we are not able to endorse any providers, we know some have been able to successfully help U.S. citizens. The U.S. Embassy is also aware that there are commercial opportunities to depart Israel by ship, and U.S. citizens should check local media if other commercial opportunities arise to depart as we may not be able to provide the information before such travel options sell out," the notice reads.
U.S. ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee posted on his X, formerly Twitter, about the announcement and wrote, "'Operation Exodus' is helping US Citizens evacuate Israel. We can't part the Red Sea, but are parting the 'Red Tape' to help people who wish to leave!"
He added that the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem "has arranged for masses to leave & our team is working around the clock to assist."
The post continued: "Once on the list you will find out options to leave via cruise ship, commercial or charter flight or a few US Gov't operated flights. If given an option, TAKE IT. If you turn down evac offer, it will be offered to next person on list."
In another X post on Saturday, Huckabee reaffirmed that the "assisted departure flights" have commenced and that individuals who would like to be considered need to fill out the online form first.
Earlier this week, Trump shared reported text messages from Huckabee on his Truth Social account, calling the ambassador a "great person!" The messages read, "I believe you will hear from heaven and that voice is far more important than mine or ANYONE else's."
The State Department notice also states that due to the closure of the Iranian airspace, U.S. citizens seeking to leave the country should "depart by land to Azerbaijan, Armenia, or Türkiye if they deem conditions are safe/if they can do so safely," the notice said, adding that "because of the limitations on consular support in Iran, we do not anticipate offering direct U.S. government assisted departure from Iran. U.S. citizens seeking departure should take advantage of existing means to leave Iran."
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee are seen with Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar in Jerusalem on May 26.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee are seen with Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar in Jerusalem on May 26.
AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool
What People Are Saying
Governor Ron DeSantis, a Florida Republican, wrote Friday on X: "Welcome home to those rescued from the escalating Iranian attacks against Israel. The mission has been challenging, but Florida delivered solutions. Through the partnership of @FLSERT and @greybullrescue, we are proud to be the first to welcome these individuals home."
Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, said in a June 18 X post: "President Trump has handled the Israel-Iran conflict brilliantly thus far. Israel dominates the skies and has destroyed Iran's military and scientific leadership. They have also done great damage to Iran's nuclear infrastructure. However the one site left standing - the deep underground Fordow site - must be dealt with to achieve the common objective of making sure Iran's nuclear enrichment program ends..."
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on June 16: "AMERICA FIRST means many GREAT things, including the fact that, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!
Steve Bannon, former chief strategist to Trump, said on his show, The War Room: "Come on, man. We have to have an adult conversation. We're not going to let the shills at Fox—the same exact crowd that said the same thing about the Iraq War—force the President of the United States into a corner. He needs a range of options."
What Happens Next
The conflict remains volatile, with Israel continuing its military campaign and Iran vowing not to back down.
Reports also indicate American bombers and naval fleets are mobilizing in preparation for U.S. war efforts.
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