The US has advised embassy staff in Israel to leave now if they want to because of the threat of war in the Middle East.

TEL AVIV, Israel — The US Embassy in Israel told its staff on Friday that they could leave the country and urged anyone considering leaving to do so immediately because of the threat of a US strike on Iran.

US Ambassador Mike Huckabee told embassy employees in an email that discussions with officials in Washington led to the decision to authorize the departure of those seeking to leave.

Someone involved in the US mission, who was not authorized to share details, recounted the email to The Associated Press. Sent before 10:30 a.m., it urged the crew to expedite the departure, advising them to focus initially on getting any aircraft out of Israel and then on to Washington.

“Those wishing to take AD should do so today,” Huckabee wrote, using the acronym for “official exit.”

“There may or may not be flights departing in the coming days,” he said.

Huckabee said there’s no need to panic, but it’s important for those looking to leave to make plans soon.

The email came a day after Iran and the United States walked away from nuclear talks without a deal. Airlines such as Netherlands-based KLM have already announced plans to suspend flights from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport, and other embassies have made official exit plans from Israel and neighboring countries.

Australia on Wednesday “directed the departure of all dependents of Australian officials posted to Israel in response to the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East.” Several European countries with operations in India and Iran have advised their citizens to avoid traveling to the country.

At a town hall meeting Friday after sending the email, Huckabee told staff he was encouraging airlines to fly.

The departure confirmations signal a new level of contingency planning for the massive deployment of US aircraft and warships in the Middle East.

Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, who is mediating the talks, said significant progress had been made on Thursday, although officials from Iran and the United States had not announced further steps.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi did not give any specifics on Thursday, but said “what needs to happen has been clearly stated from our side.”

___ Metz reported from Ramallah in the West Bank.