The US Embassy in Jerusalem announced on March 3 that it cannot evacuate American citizens from Israel as security conditions continue to deteriorate follow strikes by Tel Aviv on Iran. 

The embassy has ordered all US government employees and their family members to shelter in place in and near their residences until further notice.

The announcement comes as a new war front opened across the Israel-Lebanon border, with the IDF Israel combatting Hezbollah in addition to Iran.

Following sustained rocket fire across the Lebanon-Israel border, the IDF has launched a ground campaign in southern Lebanon. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz authorised the IDF "to advance and seize additional controlled territories in Lebanon in order to prevent firing on Israeli border communities," marking a significant expansion of military operations beyond Israel's borders. 

A rocket from Lebanon struck a residential home in Kfar Yuval in the Galilee, injuring four residents, whilst the IDF confirmed hitting over 160 Hezbollah targets throughout Lebanon over the past day.

"The US Embassy is not in a position at this time to evacuate or directly assist Americans in departing Israel," the embassy stated in its press release, directing Americans seeking to leave toward available land crossings to Jordan and Egypt.

For Americans seeking to depart, the embassy outlined available routes. Passengers wishing to cross to Jordan may take shuttles to Eilat from meeting points in Herzliya, Haifa, Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv before continuing independently by taxi to the Yitzhak Rabin Border Crossing.

The land crossing to Egypt at Taba is open 24 hours a day, with visa fees applicable to some travellers, though US citizens not exiting the Sinai region for other parts of Egypt are exempt.

"Security conditions can change without warning, closing any border crossing," the embassy cautioned, adding that, “in response to security incidents and without advance notice, the US Embassy may further restrict or prohibit US government employees and their family members from travelling to certain areas of Israel (including the Old City of Jerusalem) and the West Bank.