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As the war with Iran rages in the Middle East, many Americans in Israel appear to be stranded in the Holy Land for the time being.
According to the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, Operation Epic Fury, which is violently dismantling the Iranian regime and its entire military, has made it nearly impossible for Americans to evacuate the region.
“The U.S. Embassy is not in a position at this time to evacuate or directly assist Americans in departing Israel,” the agency said in a statement on Monday.
The embassy has advised that American government employees and their family members “continue to shelter in place in and near their residences until further notice.”
Americans can, of course, independently pursue departure if they so desire, but the security concerns are vast as the conflict in the Middle East continues. As of Monday, the Israeli Ministry of Tourism has opened shuttles to the Taba Border Crossing.
“The U.S. Embassy cannot make any recommendation (for or against) the Ministry of Tourism’s shuttle,” the agency noted. “If you choose to avail yourself of this option to depart, the U.S. government cannot guarantee your safety. The information is provided as a courtesy to those wishing to leave Israel.”
U.S. military forces and Israeli military forces are jointly cooperating in strikes against Iran as the war against the terrorist regime continues.
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump was asked by reporters in the Oval Office why there wasn’t a plan in place to assist Americans in departing Israel before the conflict erupted.
The president said the attacks were triggered “very quickly” and “[Iran] was getting ready to attack Israel, they were getting ready to attack others.”
He noted, “We attacked first…we’re really decimating them.”
The president also said in earlier comments on Tuesday that the decision to strike Iran was based on his opinion that Iran was planning to “attack first if we didn’t do it.”
“Based on the way the negotiation was going, I think they were going to attack first, and I didn’t want that to happen. So if anything…I might have forced Israel’s hand,” President Trump remarked, amid questions about what specifically triggered the greenlight on Operation Epic Fury.
As of Tuesday afternoon, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the U.S. State Department was “actively working on plans to help Americans in the Middle East return home.”