The withdrawal of some US personnel from key bases in the Middle East is a precautionary step at a time of increasing tensions with Iran. The US military has already begun the evacuation from Qatar.
The decision to withdraw some personnel from key US bases in the Middle East is a precautionary measure, according to an unnamed US official, as tensions rise in the region. US President Donald Trump recently threatened Iran with intervention to protect the participants of anti-government demonstrations, which the Iranian security forces are violently suppressing. According to human rights organizations, more than 2,500 people have already died during them. TASR informs about it according to the Reuters agency.
- The US is withdrawing some personnel from bases in the Middle East.
- The measure is a response to growing tensions in the region.
- Trump threatened Iran with intervention after violent suppression of protests.
- Iran has warned neighboring countries against attacks on American bases.
- The transfer mainly concerns the al-Udayd base in Qatar.
According to an unnamed high-ranking Iranian official, Tehran had warned neighboring countries shortly before that in the event of a US attack on its territory, it would attack American military bases there in retaliation. According to him, the Iranian government has especially alerted Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey.
Transfer of personnel from Qatar
The United States has already advised some personnel at al-Udayd Air Base in Qatar to leave by Wednesday evening. The base was the target of an Iranian attack in June last year in retaliation for US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
There are several American military bases around Iran. The forward headquarters of the US Army’s Central Command (CENTCOM) is located at the al-Udayd base. The headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet is located in nearby Bahrain. Other bases are in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Turkey, which is a member state of NATO.
