Overview

• U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee tweeted that the embassy is arranging evacuation flights and cruise ship departures for private American citizens after initially declining to assist them.
• The State Department evacuated nonessential diplomats and their families on a government plane on June 18 under an authorized departure status.
• On June 13, Israel launched a surprise ballistic missile strike against Iran, triggering the current wave of reprisals.
• Iran’s missile salvos have killed two dozen Israelis and injured hundreds, while Israeli counterstrikes have killed hundreds of Iranians, including senior military officers.
• President Trump has remained ambiguous about direct U.S. military intervention or targeting Iran’s nuclear program despite suggesting Tehran faces mounting pressure.