State Department authorizes departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel from Israel

The State Department on Friday said it is authorizing the departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel from Israel over safety risks.

"On February 27, 2026, the Department of State authorized the departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and family members of U.S. government personnel from Mission Israel due to safety risks," U.S. Embassy Jerusalem posted on X.  

"In response to security incidents and without advance notice, the U.S. Embassy may further restrict or prohibit U.S. government employees and their family members from traveling to certain areas of Israel, the Old City of Jerusalem, and the West Bank. Persons may wish to consider leaving Israel while commercial flights are available."

The notice tells Americans to reconsider traveling to Israel and the West Bank "due to terrorism and civil unrest," and to not travel to Gaza, near the Lebanese and Syrian borders in northern Israel, or the Egyptian border, besides the Taba crossing.

"Terrorist groups, lone-actor terrorists and other violent extremists continue plotting possible attacks in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. Terrorists and violent extremists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities. The security environment is complex and can change quickly, and violence can occur in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza without warning. Increased regional tensions can cause airlines to cancel and/or curtail flights into and out of Israel," the notice reads.

It appears that there are no published reports of terrorist attacks in Israel. The U.S. embassy in Lebanon issued a similar notice on Monday, for a country that was already under a "do not travel" advisory.

The notice for Israel comes amid U.S. talks with Iran over the Islamic country's nuclear program, and as President Trump has bolstered U.S. military presence in the area for the possibility of strikes.

On Thursday, the Israeli Air Force carried out multiple strikes in eastern Lebanon, saying it targeted eight of Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force's military compounds, the Times of Israel reported.

The Lebanese Health Ministry said that the strikes killed a 16-year-old Syrian teen and injured 29 other people.

Israel Defense Forces said that the strikes hit Hezbollah sites where weapons and rockets were stored, in addition to being used for training by the Radwan Force for planned attacks on Israel.