US Plans Evacuation Of Citizens From Israel, Signals Possible Entry Into Iran Conflict

Last Updated:June 19, 2025, 09:48 IST

The US posture, marked by troop movements, jet deployments and evacuation planning, signals serious preparation for direct involvement in the Iran-Israel conflict, top sources said

The situation has further intensified following US President Donald Trump’s public demand for Iran’s “total surrender” on its nuclear programme. (AP Photo)

In a significant development amid the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, the United States is preparing to evacuate its citizens from Israel, CNN-News18 has learned. According to top government sources, this is being seen as a clear signal that Washington is preparing for potential direct involvement in the conflict.

This move follows a series of high-level military deployments by the US, including the movement of troops and the redeployment of combat jets and refuelling aircraft to forward positions across the Middle East and Europe — measures that indicate preparations for possible large-scale operations. Sources say the US is also preparing emergency routes in anticipation of potential escalation, given the heightened risk of conflict between Tehran and Tel Aviv.

The situation has further intensified following US President Donald Trump’s public demand for Iran’s “total surrender" on its nuclear programme. Trump had earlier issued a public warning urging 10 million residents of Tehran to evacuate — a step that sources called logistically impossible but one that has contributed to mounting psychological pressure on Iranian citizens.

The planned evacuation reflects growing fears of Iranian retaliation inside Israel. Tehran has openly threatened to strike US military bases in the region if Washington directly supports Israeli military operations.

Government sources described the current sequence of developments as “nothing but alarms before US strikes," with particular concern over Iran’s underground Fordow nuclear facility. The Fordow site, located under a mountain near Qom, is one of Iran’s most heavily protected nuclear facilities and, according to the sources, can only be targeted by American bunker-buster munitions.

With diplomatic channels having collapsed and Tehran refusing to negotiate “under threat," top sources believe the chances of military conflict have significantly increased. The evacuation planning is a pre-emptive step to avoid American civilian casualties and prepare for potential rapid escalation, particularly if Israel proceeds with strikes on Iran’s deep nuclear infrastructure and Tehran retaliates.

Military and intelligence assessments now indicate that the current US posture, including troop positioning and asset deployment, points toward serious preparations for a possible large-scale offensive.

FLIGHT CARRYING INDIAN STUDENTS EVACUATED FROM IRAN LANDS IN DELHI

A batch of 110 Indian students evacuated from war-hit Iran returned home early Thursday morning, sharing harrowing accounts of the escalating conflict and expressing deep gratitude to the Indian government for its swift response. The students, who had been relocated to Armenia via land border crossings arranged by the Indian Embassy under ‘Operation Sindhu’, arrived in New Delhi on the first repatriation flight.

THE IRAN-ISRAEL WAR

In the latest, Israel’s military warned people Thursday to evacuate the area around Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor.

The warning came in a social media post on X. It included a satellite image of the plant in a red circle, like other warnings that preceded strikes.

The Arak heavy water reactor is located around 250 kilometres southwest of Tehran. While heavy water is used to cool reactors, it also enables the production of plutonium — a substance that can be used to build nuclear weapons. This provides Iran with an alternative path to a nuclear bomb, alongside enriched uranium, should it choose to pursue that capability.

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