Biden administration prepares for possible evacuation of American citizens in the Middle East
The Biden administration is reportedly making contingency plans for the potential evacuation of hundreds of thousands of American citizens from the Middle East if the violence in Gaza escalates further. This comes as Israeli forces are expected to launch a ground offensive against Hamas militants, with the aid of US weapons and military advisers.
While officials stress that such an evacuation is considered a worst-case scenario, there are concerns about the safety of Americans living in Israel and neighboring Lebanon. The situation in Lebanon is particularly worrying due to the presence of Hezbollah, a political party and militant group that has long accepted support from Iran. There are fears that Hezbollah could attack Israel from the north, creating a two-front war.
“The administration is very, very, very worried that this thing is going to get out of hand,” said an anonymous official. The concern extends beyond Israel and Lebanon, as officials closely monitor the street protests spreading throughout the Arab world. These protests have inflamed regional anger at Israel and its treatment of the Palestinians.
The potential scale and complexity of an evacuation pose significant challenges. There are approximately 600,000 US citizens in Israel and an additional 86,000 believed to be in Lebanon. Depending on the magnitude of an evacuation, it could involve the use of Air Force aircraft or Navy warships, which have been deployed to the region this month.
Suzanne Maloney, a director of foreign policy at the Brookings Institution, noted that the situation requires urgent attention. “With 600,000 Americans in Israel and threats to other Americans across the region, it’s hard to think of an evacuation that might compare to this in scale, scope, and complexity,” she said.
The Biden administration has been cautious in discussing such plans publicly to avoid causing panic among Americans in the region. However, the State Department issued an advisory last week urging US citizens worldwide to exercise increased caution due to tensions and potential terrorist attacks.
Furthermore, the Pentagon has signaled its concern over an increase in attacks on US troops in the Middle East, specifically highlighting Iran’s extensive sponsorship of militant groups. Additional missile-defense systems are being deployed to safeguard US personnel.
While no US personnel have been killed or seriously injured in the spillover violence so far, the situation remains fraught. The Pentagon is compiling a list of confirmed incidents but acknowledges the challenge of dealing with disinformation and misinformation.
The Biden administration is monitoring the situation closely, evaluating all possible outcomes, and stressing the importance of having a plan for every scenario. As tensions continue to rise, the safety and well-being of American citizens in the Middle East remain a top priority.