The United States government has told its citizens in Israel that it is not in a position to evacuate or help them in any way other than through alerts, urging Americans to make their own security and departure arrangements as missile strikes from Iran intensify across the region.
In a March 2 security alert, the U.S. Embassy Jerusalem said: “The US Embassy is not in a position at this time to evacuate or directly assist Americans in departing Israel.”
Instead, the embassy provided logistical information for those wishing to leave, including details about shuttle buses organized by Israel’s Ministry of Tourism to the Taba border crossing into Egypt and onward routes to Jordan through the Yitzhak Rabin crossing near Eilat.
The embassy stressed it could not recommend the shuttle services or guarantee the safety of those choosing to use them.
“If you choose to avail yourself of this option to depart, the U.S. government cannot guarantee your safety,” the notice stated.
The alert comes amid a sharp deterioration in security following Iranian missile fire and heightened regional tensions.
US government employees and their families in Israel have been ordered to shelter in place until further notice.
The move has sparked debate over whether this represents an unprecedented stance by a US diplomatic mission in an active conflict zone. While the language is unusually stark, history shows that US embassies have, in past crises, been unable to immediately evacuate citizens.
During the chaotic fall of Kabul in 2021, the US Embassy Kabul was forced into a rapid evacuation as Taliban forces seized control of Afghanistan.
Thousands of Americans were evacuated in a massive military airlift, but many were left scrambling for access to the airport amid deteriorating security conditions.
Similarly, during the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, the United States conducted a large-scale evacuation of American citizens from Lebanon. In that case, the US government chartered ships and aircraft to move citizens out of Beirut after fighting intensified.
In Sudan in 2023, the US Embassy Khartoum evacuated diplomatic staff but did not initially offer a full evacuation of its private citizens, instead urging them to shelter in place or depart by their own means where possible.
What distinguishes the current situation in Israel is the direct and explicit acknowledgment that the embassy cannot “directly assist” in departures at this time, even as it circulates practical border-crossing guidance.
“The US Embassy is not in a position at this time to evacuate or directly assist Americans in departing Israel,” the statement said.
The notice effectively places responsibility on individual citizens to assess risks and coordinate their own exit strategies.
The embassy listed shuttle pick-up points in Herzliya, Haifa, Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv, and provided information about limited flights from Egypt’s Taba and Sharm al-Sheikh airports, as well as operations at Queen Alia International Airport in Jordan.
“The US Embassy reminds US citizens of the continued need for caution and increased personal security awareness — including knowing the location of the nearest shelter in the event of a red alert, as security incidents, such as mortar, rocket, and missile fire, and unmanned aircraft system (UAS) intrusions, often take place without any warning,” it added.
It warned that border crossings could close without notice and reminded citizens that rocket and missile fire can occur without warning.
But even where it notified of shuttles, the embassy said it cannot guarantee that even the shuttles will be safe.
“The US Embassy cannot make any recommendation (for or against) the Ministry of Tourism’s shuttle. If you choose to avail yourself of this option to depart, the US government cannot guarantee your safety,” it said.
Americans were also urged to follow guidance from Israel’s Home Front Command and download emergency alert applications to receive real-time warnings of incoming fire.
Security experts note that while the US government has a long-standing policy of assisting citizens abroad during crises, it does not guarantee evacuation in every scenario.
The State Department typically emphasizes that private US citizens are responsible for their own travel arrangements and should not rely solely on government rescue operations.
Still, the stark phrasing of the Jerusalem embassy’s advisory underscores the seriousness of the security environment. With regional tensions escalating and missile alerts sounding across parts of Israel, Washington’s message is clear: Americans in the region must be prepared to act independently.
Whether the US government will later organize a formal evacuation, as it has in past crises, remains uncertain. For now, its citizens in Israel are being told to make their own plans — and to do so quickly.