Tel Aviv

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Israel early next week as tensions between the United States and Iran intensify amid a significant American military buildup in the Middle East, the State Department said on Friday.

In a statement, the department said Rubio would visit Israel on Monday and Tuesday to “discuss a range of regional priorities including Iran, Lebanon, and ongoing efforts to implement President Trump's 20-Point Peace Plan for Gaza.”

No additional details about the visit were provided.

The announcement came hours after the US Embassy in Jerusalem placed non-essential personnel and family members on “authorised departure” status, allowing eligible staff to leave the country voluntarily at government expense.

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The visit is set against the backdrop of heightened regional uncertainty, with Washington and Tehran at odds over security and strategic issues across the Middle East.