
The mayor of Beersheba announced the opening of the city's bomb shelters, amid growing concerns about the risk of military conflict with Iran. Earlier, Washington ordered the urgent evacuation of personnel from its embassy in Israel, while a similar directive was issued for the embassy in Baghdad.
The US Embassy in Jerusalem announced that the United States will allow non-essential personnel and their families to leave Israel for security reasons.
The statement also said the US embassy may impose further restrictions on US government employees and their families from traveling to areas of Israel, the Old City of Jerusalem and the West Bank. It also advised US citizens to consider leaving Israel while commercial flights are still available.
Also, the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, told embassy staff that anyone who wants to leave must do so within the day.
The developments come as negotiations continue between the US and Iran over Tehran's nuclear program.
However, so far there are no signs of progress that could prevent US attacks, while the reinforcement of US forces in the region also continues.