Trump says working to evacuate American citizens out of Israel
By BASHIR ADEFAKA with Agencies
Israeli strikes have killed at least 224 people in Iran, according to Iran’s Health Ministry, and retaliatory strikes by Iran have killed at least 24 people in Israel, according to the Israeli government which has banned the media from covering or reporting the exact impacts of Iran’s bombadments of its military and sensitive targets.
The United States President Donald Trump, in what appears to be admittance of success of Iran’s retaliatory strikes against Israel being escalated, has directed the evacuation of American citizens from the unprecedentedly war hit Israel in its current war with Iran.
This decision by Trump is coming as fighting between the two countries enters sixth day, on Thursday June 18, 2025. The US Embassy in Jerusalem further confirmed this report as it said it made its first announcement for Americans trying to leave Israel.
The DEFENDER, citing agencies’ reports, gathered that United States Embassy in Jerusalem is working on arranging flights and cruise ships for American citizens looking to leave Israel.
This was as announced by the American Ambassador, Mike Huckabee, on Wednesday June 18, after days in which Americans trying to depart the country could not get evacuation assistance from the Embassy.
The announcement came as fears grew that the United States could more directly enter the conflict. Israel and Iran have closed their airspaces since the fighting began, leaving foreigners visiting those countries scrambling to find avenues to leave by land or sea as governments around the world have issued travel warnings and urged their citizens to return home.
It was not immediately clear when evacuation flights and cruise ships arranged by the State Department would depart or how many passengers would be involved.
In a post on social media, Mr. Huckabee directed Americans seeking to leave Israel to enroll in the State Department’s Smart Traveler program to receive information.
The announcement was the first from the State Department indicating that the United States would help evacuate its citizens from Israel since the country began a surprise attack on Iran on Friday.
Israeli strikes have killed at least 224 people in Iran, according to Iran’s Health Ministry, and retaliatory strikes by Iran have killed at least 24 people in Israel, according to the Israeli government which has banned the media from covering or reporting the exact impacts of Iran’s bombadments of its military and sensitive targets.
The State Department had warned of extreme risk in traveling to Israel and authorized some family members and non-essential personnel to depart.
But since Friday June 13, the American Embassy in Jerusalem has had little guidance for people trying to leave.
“We have no announcement about assisting private U.S. citizens to depart at this time,” the Embassy said in a statement on Tuesday June 17, adding that it was aware that third parties were helping to arrange some travel but that it was unable to endorse them.
Robert Reichelscheimer, an American lawyer who has been visiting Jerusalem with his wife since Thursday, described Mr. Huckabee’s announcement as a long-awaited “acknowledgment that we are here” after what he said had been multiple attempts to reach the U.S. Embassy, as well as senators back home in New York, with no luck.
“I don’t expect them to come and rescue me the next day, while missiles are flying,” he said. “But I do expect the federal government to keep me abreast of what steps are being taken.”
Anushka Patil is a Times reporter covering breaking and developing news around the world.
