WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department has begun evacuating nonessential diplomats and their families from the U.S. embassy in Israel as hostilities between Israel and Iran intensify and there is the possibility that the United States could become directly involved in the conflict.

The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem will be closed for the next few days as the Israel-Iran conflict intensifies, the embassy said in a release. The embassy has also directed all U.S. government employees and their family members to continue sheltering in place.

The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem will be closed from Wednesday through Friday as President Trump weighs military attacks on Iran.

As fighting between Iran and Israel continued for a sixth day, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem made its first announcement for Americans trying to leave Israel.

The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem said earlier it was working on dispatching evacuation flights and cruise ships for American citizens who wish to leave Israel.