Edan’s inclusion on today’s military evacuation flight signals not only the U.S. government’s deep concern for his safety, but also the increasingly volatile environment in Israel.

As the security situation in the region continues to deteriorate, a U.S. military aircraft landed in Israel earlier today to evacuate American diplomats and their families.

The precautionary operation, coordinated amid fears of further military escalation, included one particularly notable passenger: 21-year-old Edan Alexander, the Israeli-American soldier who recently survived an excruciating 19-month captivity in Gaza.