The United States has deployed the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford near Israel as part of a growing military build-up amid tensions with Iran, while governments around the world urge their citizens to leave parts of the region.
The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, arrived off Israel’s coast on Friday, according to Israel’s Channel 12. The reported deployment follows the landing of around 20 U.S. refuelling aircraft in Israel on Thursday night.
Israel’s public broadcaster had earlier reported the arrival of four U.S. KC-46A Pegasus refueling aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv.
No official announcement has been made by the U.S. military. Media reports say the deployments are linked to contingency planning amid the possibility of a military strike against Iran.
The developments coincide with the latest round of talks between Iran and the U.S. in Geneva on Thursday, aimed at resolving their longstanding nuclear dispute and averting potential new U.S. strikes following the expanded military presence.
Amid tensions, several countries have begun pulling diplomatic staff out of Iran and advising their citizens to leave or avoid travelling to parts of the Middle East, as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to mount.
The warnings come amid fears that the stand-off could trigger wider regional instability, with governments from at least eight nations saying the security situation could deteriorate rapidly.
The U.S. has withdrawn non-essential staff and eligible family members from its embassy in Lebanon, according to a senior State Department official, reflecting concerns about possible regional escalation linked to Iran.
The U.S. has also authorised the departure of some embassy personnel and their families from Israel due to safety risks, the U.S. embassy said in a post on X on Friday.
It added that the embassy could further restrict U.S. government employees and their families from travelling to certain areas of Israel, Jerusalem’s Old City and the West Bank without advance notice, and advised U.S. citizens to consider leaving Israel while commercial flights remain available.
Serbia and Poland have told their citizens in Iran to leave as soon as possible, citing heightened tensions and the risk of further security deterioration.
Sweden’s Foreign Ministry has gone further, instructing nationals to exit Iran by a specified deadline and warning that those who choose to remain should not expect government-assisted evacuation.
India’s embassy in Tehran has urged all Indian nationals to leave the country using any available commercial means. Singapore has also advised against all travel to Iran until further notice.
Australia has advised dependents of its diplomatic staff in Israel and Lebanon to depart due to what it described as a deteriorating regional security environment.
Canberra has also offered voluntary departures for dependents in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Qatar, and urged Australians in Israel and Lebanon to consider leaving while flights are still operating.
While embassies remain operational in many locations, officials have emphasised that contingency planning is under way and that travel guidance could tighten further if tensions continue to rise.
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A third round of indirect nuclear negotiations between Iran and the U.S. concluded in Geneva on Thursday, with Omani mediators reporting “significant progress” but no final agreement.
Iran’s top diplomat said that the next round of nuclear talks is expected in less than a week after what he described as “progress in the most serious exchanges” between Tehran and Washington. The statement follows the third round of nuclear talks on Thursday (26 February) in Geneva.
Nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran in Geneva have been described as “positive”, according to a report by Axios citing a U.S. official.
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The United States has deployed the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford near Israel as part of a growing military build-up amid tensions with Iran, while governments around the world urge their citizens to leave parts of the region.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said on Friday that the country was in an “open war” with neighbouring Afghanistan, declaring that Islamabad’s “cup of patience has overflowed” after overnight clashes in which both sides reported heavy losses.
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Britain’s Ministry of Defence is reviewing military flight records after files appeared to show that Jeffrey Epstein’s private jet landed at Royal Air Force bases, adding fresh pressure on police who are already examining his movements through several civilian airports.
Pakistan’s overnight air strikes on Afghanistan’s major cities have deepened a volatile standoff between the neighbours, straining a fragile ceasefire and prompting Islamabad to call the confrontation an “open war.”
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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved an $8.1 billion, four-year Extended Fund Facility programme for Ukraine on Thursday, aimed at preserving macroeconomic and financial stability as the war with Russia continues into its fifth year.
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