US allows non-emergency staff to leave Israel as Trump threatens Iran strikes
CNA
PARIS: The United States authorised the departure of non-emergency embassy staff from Israel on Friday (Feb 27), as it threatened strikes on Iran and pressed its biggest military build-up in the Middle East in dec
PARIS: The United States authorised the departure of non-emergency embassy staff from Israel on Friday (Feb 27), as it threatened strikes on Iran and pressed its biggest military build-up in the Middle East in decades.
The move came a day after a round of Oman-mediated talks between Iran and the US, seen as a last-ditch bid to avert war, though initial optimism was tempered by Tehran warning Washington must drop "excessive demands" to reach a deal.
The talks follow repeated threats from President Donald Trump to strike Iran while the US military builds up its forces in the region.
As the world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford, was due to arrive off the coast of key US-ally Israel, the US embassy in the country announced it was allowing non-emergency government personnel and family members to leave "due to safety risks".
"Persons may wish to consider leaving Israel while commercial flights are available," the embassy said on its website.
Trump said the US strikes had "totally demolished" most of Kharg Island and warned that more could follow, adding: "We may hit it a few more times just for fun."
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