US announces closure of embassy in Jerusalem

The United States has announced the temporary closure of its embassy in Jerusalem from Wednesday, June 18, through Friday, June 20, due to the intensifying military conflict between Israel and Iran, reports AFP.

In a statement issued Tuesday (June 17), the embassy cited the current security situation and directives from Israel’s Home Front Command. All U.S. government employees and their families in the area have been instructed to remain sheltered in place until further notice.

No evacuation plans or assistance for American citizens in the region have been announced at this time.

The closure follows high-level security discussions in Washington, where former President Donald Trump met with his National Security Council after publicly threatening Iran’s supreme leader and demanding Tehran's unconditional surrender.

On Tuesday, the fifth day of the ongoing conflict, multiple explosions were reported across Iran, while missile strikes targeted several locations in Israel. Additionally, an attack was carried out on a Mossad intelligence office in Tel Aviv.