In the midst of Israel’s rapidly escalating armed conflict with Iran, which has now entered its fourth day, transgender influencer and Olympic gold medalist Caitlyn Jenner successfully escaped the country on Sunday. Jenner, 75, had been in Tel Aviv as the guest of honor for the city’s gay pride festivities, which were abruptly canceled following Israel's initiation of a series of military strikes on Tehran. These strikes resulted in the deaths of top military officials and nuclear scientists, as well as the destruction of several nuclear facilities.
As tensions mounted, all airspace in Israel was closed, and Iran retaliated with a barrage of ballistic missiles targeting populous cities like Tel Aviv and Haifa. Jenner, however, managed to leave the country by land and crossed into neighboring Jordan, where airspace has been intermittently open and closed throughout the conflict. According to a report from The Times of Israel, Jenner is now planning to fly back home to Los Angeles.
Jenner arrived at Ben Gurion Airport on Thursday as part of a much-publicized goodwill trip, where she was warmly embraced by the Israeli government amid its ongoing three-year conflict with Hamas. During the missile assaults, Jenner took to social media to share her support for Israel and its citizens. “What an incredible way it has been to celebrate Shabbat. I am here in Israel, in Tel Aviv with you all. I am a friend, advocate, ally,” she expressed in a post on X.
On Instagram, Jenner posted a striking photo capturing Tel Aviv’s skies illuminated by the Iron Dome defense system as it intercepted Iranian missiles. In her caption, she stated, “A ‘quiet’ night in Tel Aviv. There is not a place I’d rather be than with the brave people of Israel. God, please continue to shield and protect us.”
In an intriguing moment shared by Israeli influencer Regev Gur, Jenner was photographed enjoying a glass of red wine while in a bomb shelter. Gur humorously captioned the post, “What did you do during the alerts? Because I’m drinking wine with Caitlyn,” although he later deleted the post.
Another high-profile American caught in the conflict, CNN political analyst Scott Jennings, spoke to The Hollywood Reporter from his hotel room in Tiberias on Friday, as Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) fighter jets flew overhead. Jennings remains in Israel while the situation continues to unfold and has since relocated to Jerusalem. His latest post on X shared alarming footage of incoming missiles amidst thick smoke and blaring air raid sirens. “4am footage from Jerusalem last night,” Jennings wrote. “When these intercepts hit, you can hear the boom and sometimes feel the vibration. Pray for the people in Israel killed and injured by Iranian missile strikes.”
According to reports from Reuters, at least 24 Israelis have lost their lives due to Iran’s military response, with around 500 others injured. The Iranian government has reported at least 224 confirmed deaths, claiming that 90 percent of those casualties were civilians. Multiple loud explosions have been documented across Tehran throughout the night and into Monday morning. The IDF has also issued evacuation warnings for several districts, citing imminent military action.
