The Pentagon confirmed reports Thursday that it withdrew 120 Americancivilians and military personnel from Israel.
Spokesman John Kirby said the State Department personnel flew aboard a C-17military aircraft and arrived in Ramstein, Germany.
“We made this decision to remove these individuals in coordination with ourIsraeli counterparts,” Kirby said at a Pentagon news conference.
“We’re in Israel for a routine planning event,” he said, adding that thewithdrawal was scheduled to wrap up this week but the Pentagon acceleratedthe departure of personnel.
Kirby said the personnel were exercise planners and “out of an abundance ofcaution and good prudence, we ended that planning conference a little earlyand got them safely to Germany.”
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CNN first reported the departure of the US personnel. Citing a Pentagonofficial, the network said: “The continuing violence and lack of commercialair travel options were given as reasons to leave early on militarytransport.”
*Servet Gunerigok contributed to the story
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