The United States has begun evacuating some of its diplomatic staff and their families from countries in the Middle East due to the threat of further escalation. The State Department has ordered non-essential staff at US diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia to leave the country, and is also scaling back its presence in Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. According to reports by CNN and the Associated Press on 23–24 October, the decision comes against the backdrop of attacks by Iran-backed Houthis and new intelligence warnings regarding threats to US citizens.
- The US has ordered non-essential staff at diplomatic missions and their family members to leave Saudi Arabia.
- Washington is also reducing its diplomatic staff in Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar and the UAE.
- Kuwait and Bahrain remain under restricted operating conditions, but no new personnel changes have been confirmed there.
- US intelligence has warned of an increased threat to US citizens from Iran.
US orders diplomats to leave Saudi Arabia
On 21 October, the US State Department ordered the evacuation from Saudi Arabia of staff not performing critical functions, and their family members. The decision applies to American the embassy in Riyadh and the consular offices in Jeddah and Dhahran.
Spokesperson for the State Department Tommy Pigott He attributed this move to an intensification of attacks by the Yemeni Houthis, who are supported by Iran. In recent weeks, the group has carried out missile and drone strikes on civilian airports, oil facilities and other infrastructure in the Kingdom.
In particular, on 21 October, as a result of attacks on the international airport One person was killed and eight others were injured at King Fahd University in Dammam. On the same day, two people were killed in an attack on the Shaybah oil field.
The US Embassy has warned US citizens of the risk of further attacks and possible disruption to transport services.
Washington is cutting embassy staff in four more countries
According to CNN, alongside the reduction in its diplomatic presence in Saudi Arabia, Washington is reviewing staffing levels in other Middle Eastern countries.
A spokesperson for the State Department confirmed temporary staffing changes at diplomatic missions in Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
CNN also mentioned Bahrain and Kuwait, although the US State Department clarified that there have been no further changes to the staffing levels at these two embassies.
Unlike in Saudi Arabia, no compulsory evacuation has been imposed on staff at diplomatic missions in the other four countries. The embassies continue to operate on a limited basis.
The exact number of diplomats and their family members affected by the new measures has not been disclosed.
US intelligence has warned of possible attacks by Iran
On 24 October, the Associated Press reported on a US intelligence memo sent to the Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
In the document, the Director of US National Intelligence, Jay Clayton, warned of a significant increase in Iranian activity targeting American personnel.
According to US intelligence agencies, preparations for potentially lethal attacks on US citizens in certain countries in the Middle East and beyond have reached an advanced stage.
Three US officials confirmed to the Associated Press the existence of the document in question. According to them, threats from Iran and the Houthis, which it supports, influenced the decision to reduce diplomatic staff.
At the same time, the intelligence briefing does not contain a publicly available list of specific targets for potential attacks.
Trump has authorised further strikes against Iran
The evacuation measures are taking place against the backdrop of statements by the US President Donald Trump regarding the possible resumption of military operations against Iran. During a speech in Florida on 23 October, Trump suggested the possibility of further strikes if Tehran did not agree to negotiations with Washington.
According to CNN, the Israeli side has also been pressing for swifter action against Iran, but has not yet secured support for this initiative.
At the same time, US officials deny that the reduction in diplomatic staff is directly linked to preparations for a new US-Israeli military operation.
Officially, Washington attributes these staffing decisions to security threats to diplomats and their families.
Some of the diplomats have only recently returned following their previous evacuation
A new wave of redundancies is taking place a few months after some US diplomats returned to countries in the Middle East. In August, the State Department began reopening overseas missions whose staff had previously been evacuated due to the war with Iran.
According to CNN’s sources, some families had only just managed to return to their homes and enrol their children in schools when they received further notices telling them they had to leave.
Representatives of the American Foreign Service Association criticised the way the relocations were organised. Subsequently, the State Department stated that it was providing the relevant staff members and their families with compensation for living expenses and their children’s education.
Despite staff cuts, US diplomatic missions in the countries mentioned remain open. No date has been announced for when staff will return to full-time work.
