Diplomatic Staff Pulled From Israel and Iran , Citizens Advised to Leave , Amid Rising War Fears

radiofreesyria.com · Feb 27, 2026 · Collected from GDELT

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The United States has begun evacuating non-essential embassy personnel and their families from Israel, while the UK and other countries are withdrawing staff and advising citizens to leave Iran, as tensions continue to rise ahead of a possible decision by President Donald Trump on military action against Tehran. According to media reports, the U.S. State Department authorised the departure of non-emergency personnel from its embassy in Israel, urging those who wish to leave to do so while commercial flights remain available. The embassy will remain operational, but the move reflects growing concern in Washington over the potential for rapid regional escalation. UK, China advise nationals to leave Iran At the same time, Britain has withdrawn embassy staff from Iran, with its diplomatic mission now operating remotely and consular services significantly limited. London has also advised British nationals to leave Iran, joining a growing list of countries issuing similar warnings. Several other governments — including China’s — have advised their citizens to depart Iran amid fears that a confrontation between the United States and Iran could trigger wider regional instability. The evacuations come as Trump weighs possible military options against Iran’s nuclear programme following stalled diplomatic efforts. U.S. officials have reportedly briefed the president on potential strike scenarios, even as Trump has publicly stated he would prefer a diplomatic solution. Contingency planning The United States has also massively increased its military presence in the region, a move widely viewed as part of contingency planning in the event of escalation. Iran has warned that any military action against it would prompt a forceful response and could lead to broader conflict across the Middle East, raising fears of missile strikes and retaliation involving allied groups across the region. Embassy evacuations are often seen as one of the clearest indicators that governments are preparing for the possibility of rapid escalation. While no decision on military action has been announced, the withdrawal of diplomatic staff and the growing number of travel advisories suggest rising concern that tensions could soon intensify.