The State Department has initiated the evacuation of nonessential diplomats and their families from the U.S. embassy in Israel due to escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran. There is a growing concern that the U.S. might become directly involved in the conflict.

According to two U.S. officials, a government aircraft evacuated several diplomats and their families who wished to leave on Wednesday, just before U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee revealed on X that the embassy was organizing evacuation flights and ships for private American citizens.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to describe sensitive diplomatic movements.

“Given the ongoing situation and as part of the embassy’s authorized departure status, mission personnel have begun departing Israel through a variety of means,” the State Department said.

“Authorized departure” means that nonessential staff and the families of all personnel are eligible to leave at government expense.

There was no indication of how many diplomats and family members departed on the flight.