The Joe Biden administration in the United States is making preparations for a potential mass evacuation of hundreds of thousands of American citizens from the Middle East as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to escalate, according to officials cited by the Washington Post.

Israeli forces, supported by US weapons and military advisers, are getting ready for a ground offensive against Hamas militants who were responsible for a cross-border attack that claimed the lives of over 1,400 individuals on October 7.

Although the mass evacuation is considered a worst-case scenario, officials expressed concern for Americans living in Israel and neighboring Lebanon. The Washington Post reported that an estimated 600,000 US citizens were residing in Israel, while around 86,000 were believed to be in Lebanon at the time of the Hamas attack.

While the Biden administration has expressed public support for Israel, it is deeply alarmed by the potential escalation of the conflict. In recent days, the focus has shifted to the logistical challenges of evacuating a significant number of people at short notice, sources familiar with the discussions revealed.

The situation in Lebanon is particularly worrisome due to the presence of Hezbollah, a terror group that controls a significant number of parliamentary seats and has received support from Iran. There are concerns that Hezbollah could engage in hostilities with Israel, leading to a two-front conflict that would strain Israeli forces. Border skirmishes have already taken place between the two sides.

The protests spreading across the Arab world in response to the Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have heightened the administration's concerns for the safety of US personnel and citizens in the region. The Washington Post quoted Bruce Riedel, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, who noted that the issue of Palestine has regained prominence despite perceptions that it had lost significance in the Arab world.

As the conflict continues, Palestinian health officials report that more than 5,000 people in Gaza, predominantly civilians and children, have lost their lives due to relentless Israeli airstrikes since October 7.

Last week, the State Department issued a worldwide advisory to US citizens urging increased caution due to rising tensions and the potential for terrorist attacks and violent actions against Americans and US interests. The warning responded to the demonstrations triggered by the Israel-Hamas conflict, as well as the broader resentment in the Arab world towards the US government's unwavering support for Israel.

Experts caution that if a mass evacuation were to occur, it could pose significant challenges. The scale, complexity, and scope of such an operation would be unprecedented in recent memory. Potential evacuation options include utilizing Air Force aircraft or Navy warships, which have already been deployed to the region.

The Pentagon has also signaled its readiness for an anticipated surge in attacks on US troops in the Middle East. Iran has been singled out for its extensive support of groups known for targeting American military positions using rockets and drones. In response, additional missile-defense systems are being deployed to the region to protect US personnel.

The safety of around 3,400 troops deployed in Iraq and Syria is a particular concern, with recent incidents of one-way attack drones being intercepted near the Jordan border. While it is uncertain how many times deployed personnel have come under fire since the start of the Israel-Hamas crisis, the Pentagon is compiling a list of confirmed incidents. However, the task has been challenging due to the abundance of disinformation and misinformation surrounding the events.

So far, no US personnel have been reported killed or seriously injured in the spillover violence. However, a tragic incident occurred at the Ain al-Asad air base in Iraq, where an American contractor suffered a fatal heart attack during a false alarm of an incoming attack.

As tensions remain high and the conflict shows no signs of abating, the Biden administration continues to plan for various contingencies, including the possibility of mass evacuations, in an effort to ensure the safety and well-being of American citizens in the region.