The United States is withdrawing some personnel from its bases in the Middle East amid rising tensions with Iran, a US official told the Reuters news agency.
The move follows comments by a senior Iranian official that Tehran had warned neighbouring countries it would target US bases if Washington launches strikes on Iran.
As Iran’s leadership faces widespread anti-government protests, Tehran has sought to deter repeated threats by US President Donald Trump to intervene in support of demonstrators.
A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the United States was pulling some personnel from key bases in the region as a precaution due to heightened regional tensions, Reuters reported.
Some personnel were advised to leave the Al Udeid airbase in Qatar by Wednesday evening, according to Reuters, which cited three unnamed diplomats.
“It’s a posture change and not an ordered evacuation,” one diplomat said, adding that they were not aware that a specific reason had been given for the posture change.
Qatar confirmed the drawdown of some personnel from the Al Udeid airbase was in response to “current regional tensions”.
Qatar’s International Media Office said Doha “continues to implement all necessary measures to safeguard the security and safety of its citizens and residents as a top priority” and that actions were under way for the “protection of critical infrastructure and military facilities”.
There has been no comment from the US Embassy in Doha.
The United Kingdom is also reducing the number of its personnel at the airbase in Qatar, the BBC and The i newspaper reported.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said the department does not comment on details of basing and deployments due to security reasons.
“The UK always puts precautionary measures in place to ensure the security and safety of our personnel, including, where necessary, withdrawing personnel,” the spokesperson was cited as saying by Reuters.
Al Udeid airbase houses about 10,000 troops. Last year, more than a week before the US launched air strikes on Iran, some personnel and families were moved off US bases in the Middle East. After the US attacks in June, Iran launched a missile attack on the base in Qatar.
The US embassy in Saudi Arabia has also advised its personnel to act with caution and avoid military installations.
“Given ongoing regional tensions, the US mission to Saudi Arabia has advised its personnel to exercise increased caution and limit non-essential travel to any military installations in the region. We recommend American citizens in the Kingdom do the same,” the embassy said in a statement on its website.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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