US embassy staff warned to leave Israel "TODAY" as Iran showdown heats up - National & International News - FRI 17Feb2026 -

In an email, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee warned his staff in Jerusalem that if they wished to leave Israel, they should “do so TODAY”. The warning comes as negotiations with Tehran over their nuclear and ballistic missile programs have shown little signs of progress. US military assets in the region are now at their highest level in over a decade. Aircraft carriers USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R. Ford are now in place. US fighter jets have recently arrived in Israel and at US airbases in Saudi Arabia.

Iran has also been refortifying strategic assets in anticipation of a confrontation. If the US does attack Iran, nearby US ships and military bases will be prime targets for Iranian retaliation. Israel is also likely to receive ballistic missile fire from Iran. In confrontations between Iran and Israel in 2024 and 2025, Iran’s hypersonic missiles proved themselves capable of evading both Israeli and US air defenses, striking strategic assets throughout Israel with great accuracy. During the 2025 conflict, foreign nationals, including Americans, found it difficult to evacuate Israel.

What has Trump said about war with Iran?

In addition to demands to dismantle Iran’ nuclear program, Trump has repeatedly called for regime change in Iran. Last week, Trump said that there was a “10-15 day” window for Iran to capitulate to his demands and avoid a military confrontation.

During his State of the Union speech earlier this week, President Trump set out a case for potential US strikes on Iran. Trump reiterated his position that Iran “cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon”. However, there is no evidence that Iran is working to weaponize its nuclear program. Similarly, Trump claimed that Iran was close to developing a missile capable of striking the United States, but sources say US intelligence assessments do not backed up this claim.

Earlier today, Trump said he was “not happy” with the state of the ongoing negotiations with Iran, but seemed to indicate he would give more time for talks to continue.