US evacuates some staff from Qatar base amid rising tensions with Iran
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The news: The United States is evacuating nonessential personnel from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, according to reports citing US officials describing the move as a precautionary measure amid rising tensions with Iran.
The Qatari government said the move was being carried out “in response to the current regional tensions”.
The context: The move came after US President Donald Trump earlier this week, threatened to take “very strong action” if Iran executes protesters, writing on Truth Social that “HELP IS ON ITS WAY”.
Iran has warned that it would retaliate against any US military strike, including by targeting US bases in neighbouring countries.
Tehran previously launched a missile attack on Al Udeid in June last year, after the US bombed its nuclear facilities during Israel’s so-called 12-day war against the Islamic republic.
A US official told Reuters the United States was withdrawing some personnel from bases in the Middle East, while a US official told AP and three diplomats told Reuters that some personnel had been told to leave Al Udeid.
The numbers: The base houses around 10,000 US personnel and serves as the regional headquarters for US Central Command. Human rights groups say more than 2,400 protesters and 12 children have been killed in Iran, and over 18,000 arrested, since unrest began last December.
The sources: Reuters, Financial Times, Associated Press, Qatar Media Office
