The State Department is letting non-essential personnel and the family members of diplomats at the US Embassy in Israel leave the country as fears grow that war with Iran is imminent.

In an email to staff at the Jerusalem mission Friday morning, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee warned that those wishing to depart the Jewish state “should do so TODAY.”

“Focus on getting a seat to anyplace from which you can then continue travel to DC,” added the former Arkansas governor in the message, first reported by the New York Times, “but the first priority will be getting expeditiously out of country.”

Huckabee added that the decision to allow departures was made out of “an abundance of caution.”

“There is no need to panic,” he went on, “but for those desiring to leave, it’s important to make plans to depart sooner rather than later.”