United States pulls personnel from key Middle East base amid Iran threats
The United States has begun withdrawing military personnel from critical bases in the Middle East as a precautionary step amid escalating tensions with Iran. Tehran has warned that it would strike American facilities if Washington initiates an attack, prompting this repositioning of forces.
A U.S. official confirmed to Reuters that personnel are being removed from significant installations in the region. At Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest U.S. military facility in the area housing around 10,000 troops, some staff received orders to depart by Wednesday evening. Diplomates described the action as a posture adjustment rather than a full-scale evacuation.
This move follows stark warnings from Iranian leaders to U.S. allies across the region, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey. Tehran cautioned that bases on their soil would become targets should the U.S. launch strikes. Ali Shamkhani, advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, amplified the threat on X, referencing Iran's missile strike on Al-Udeid last June in retaliation for American airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites. U.S. forces had preemptively evacuated most of the 11,000 personnel there beforehand, and defenses intercepted all but one incoming missile.
Qatar acknowledged the measures on Wednesday, attributing them to ongoing regional tensions.
The redeployments coincide with President Donald Trump weighing military options against Iran amid brutal crackdowns on widespread protests. Sparked by economic woes late last December, the demonstrations have evolved into a broader challenge to clerical rule. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported at least 2,571 deaths and over 18,100 detentions as of Wednesday.
Trump urged Iranian protesters via Truth Social to persist and seize control of institutions, claiming aid was forthcoming. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt noted Monday that airstrikes represent just one of many available options. Privately, however, Israeli and Arab officials have urged the Trump administration to hold off on large-scale strikes, citing risks of failure and a potential rally-around-the-flag effect that could bolster the regime. They proposed alternatives like aiding internet circumvention, tightening sanctions, and targeted cyberattacks.
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