US restricts personnel from travelling in Israel amid threats of 'revenge' attack by Iran

US restricts personnel from travelling in Israel amid threats of 'revenge' attack by Iran

FP Staff April 12, 2024, 10:16:45 IST

The US said it had restricted its employees in Israel and their family members from travelling outside the greater Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Be’er Sheva areas amid Iran’s threats

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US restricts personnel from travelling in Israel amid threats of 'revenge' attack by Iran
The United States embassy in Jerusalem | Source: AP

The United States has implemented stringent travel restrictions for its employees stationed in Israel. This move comes in the wake of Iran’s vow to avenge an airstrike on its embassy compound in Damascus on April 1, which has further strained an already tense region amidst the aftermath of the Gaza conflict.

The US embassy in Israel issued a security alert on Thursday, announcing the limitation of personal travel for its staff and their families. The restriction confines them to the greater Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Be’er Sheva areas.

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The embassy specified that employees are permitted to transit between these areas for personal travel purposes, but are prohibited from venturing beyond them until further notice.

Biden affirms Israel’s security amid Iranian threat

US President Joe Biden addressed concerns on Wednesday regarding potential threats from Iran, affirming the US’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the security of its ally, Israel.

Biden said that Iran was threatening to launch a “significant attack in Israel”.

US State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, acknowledged the heightened tensions and Iran’s public threats towards Israel during a press briefing.

“We conduct ongoing assessments all the time about the situation on the ground,” Miller said. “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.”

The April 1 strike in Damascus killed a top Iranian general and six other Iranian military officers. The White House had earlier said that Washington was not involved in the air strike and that the US did not want conflict to spread in the Middle East.

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