U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee reportedly issued a blunt directive to embassy personnel Friday morning: If you want to leave, go now.

In an email sent at 10:24 a.m. Israel time, Huckabee told non-emergency staff and family members that those wishing to depart �should do so TODAY,� according to a report by The New York Times.

The message, verified by three people who saw it, suggests that war with Iran is imminent.

The embassy�s call for authorized departures �will likely result in high demand for airline seats today,� Huckabee wrote, urging staff to move quickly. �Focus on getting a seat to anyplace from which you can then continue travel to DC, but the first priority will be getting expeditiously out of country.�

While the ambassador sought to temper alarm, the urgency of the language left little ambiguity about the seriousness of the moment.

�There is no need to panic,� Huckabee wrote. �But for those desiring to leave, it�s important to make plans to depart sooner rather than later.�

Authorized departures are typically issued when intelligence assessments indicate a deteriorating threat environment but stop short of a full evacuation order.

An authorized departure allows non-essential personnel and family members to leave at government expense while maintaining core diplomatic operations. It is often a precursor to more restrictive measures if conditions worsen.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)