US creates task force for citizens in Mideast during Israel-Iran conflict
The United States is setting up a round-the-clock task force to help Americans in the Middle East during the Israel-Iran conflict, officials said Tuesday.
"The Department of State has established the Middle East Task Force to help coordinate support for U.S. citizens, our U.S. diplomatic missions and personnel and diplomatic engagement," spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told a press briefing.
"The task force is operating 24 hours a day over the past week to help keep U.S. citizens informed. We have issued more than 30 security alerts to countries in the region and updated travel advisories for Iraq and Israel," she said.
She urged U.S. nationals not to travel to Israel or Iraq "under any circumstances."
The United States -- which has no physical embassy in Iran -- last week began reducing staff numbers at its embassy in Iraq, and authorized the departure of non-essential personnel and their families from both Iraq and Israel.
Bruce declined to say if Washington was preparing for voluntary evacuations of U.S. citizens from the region, amid mounting speculation about whether the United States will get directly involved in the fight.
Close U.S. ally Israel on Friday began an air campaign against Iran, targeting hundreds of military and nuclear sites, with the stated intention of preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Iran retaliated with strikes on Israel.
Israel and Iran exchanged fire again on Tuesday, the fifth day of their most intense confrontation in history, fueling fears of a drawn-out conflict that could engulf the Middle East.
Source: Agence France Presse
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