The United States will organise evacuation flights for its citizens staying in Israel, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said on 18 June.
The Ambassador indicated that special evacuation flights are being organised from Israel. They will be operated by sea cruise liners, as air traffic over Israel is now down.
“Urgent message! American citizens wishing to leave Israel-the U.S. Embassy in Israel is working on evacuation flights and sending cruise ships. You must enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Programme (STEP),” the diplomat wrote on the X network.
Israel began bombing Iran on 13 June. The stated targets of the airstrikes are sites related to Iran’s nuclear programme, buildings of security agencies, as well as nuclear scientists and high-ranking military officials. According to the latest official data from the Iranian authorities, the victims of the attacks were 224 people, most of whom Tehran calls civilians.
Israel recalls that in 2024, Iran twice carried out massive ballistic missile and drone strikes on the territory of Israel – on 13 April and 1 October. Iran also carried out several missile strikes after 13 June.