State Dept. has "no announcement" about helping Americans evacuate Israel

Washington — The U.S. State Department said Wednesday it had "no announcement about assisting private U.S. citizens to depart at this time," after the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem said it was working on dispatching evacuation flights and cruise ships for American citizens who wish to leave Israel amid the country's ongoing conflict with Iran.

"Urgent notice! American citizens wanting to leave Israel- US Embassy in Israel ... is working on evacuation flights & cruise ship departures," U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee wrote on X earlier Wednesday. "You must enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). You will be alerted w/ updates."

The embassy's announcement comes on the sixth day of the Israel-Iran war, which saw fresh exchanges of strikes overnight into Wednesday. The U.S. State Department on Monday raised its travel advisory for Israel to a Level 4 "do not travel," the highest travel warning possible.

However, following the State Department's update, it was not clear if the flights and cruise ships would be available or, if they are organized, when. Ben Gurion International Airport remains closed, as are all Israel's seaports, the State Department noted.

On Wednesday, President Trump signaled the possibility of joining Israel in its strikes on Iran.

"I may do it, I may not do it, nobody knows what I'm going to do," Mr. Trump told reporters when he was asked about whether the U.S. will get involved in the strikes on Iran's nuclear and military facilities.

Mr. Trump has called on Iran to surrender completely. But Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said his country won't surrender and warned the U.S. against military intervention.

Olivia Victoria Gazis contributed to this report.