US Embassy in Israel directs all US employees to shelter in place

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US Embassy in Israel directed all government employees and family members to shelter in place Sunday "until further notice" amid an Iran attack.

"In response to security incidents and without advance notice, the U.S. Embassy may further restrict or prohibit U.S. government employees and their family members from traveling to certain areas of Israel (including the Old City of Jerusalem) and the West Bank," the embassy said in a statement.

It reminded US nationals of the continued need for caution and increased personal security awareness as security incidents often come without warning.

"The security environment remains complex and can change quickly depending on the political situation and recent events," it said.

Iran began an airborne attack Saturday against Israel in retaliation for an April 1 airstrike on its diplomatic facility in the Syrian capital of Damascus. The strike killed at least seven members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including two top generals.

Tehran has accused Israel of carrying out the attack and vowed to respond. Tel Aviv has not officially claimed responsibility for the attack but it has for months carried out several strikes against Iranian targets across Syria.

Iran and Hezbollah, its main ally in Lebanon, have said the attack will not go unpunished.