The United States has quietly begun withdrawing troops from various military bases across the Middle East, according to US media outlet NBC News citing sources on Thursday. This development follows directives for personnel to evacuate several regional diplomatic missions.
Prompted by President Donald Trump's consideration of new potential strikes, the Pentagon and State Department have prepared measures echoing the posture taken prior to the initial round of strikes last February. While US military personnel in Jordan, Qatar, and Kuwait are being relocated, a limited number of essential staff handling air defense and security remain stationed at the bases.
Ahead of the February 28 deadline following Iranian retaliatory considerations, the Pentagon had similarly evacuated large numbers of troops to civilian hotels and office buildings—a move previously criticized by Tehran, which accused Washington of using Gulf civilians as "human shields." US Central Command spokesperson Timothy Hawkins declined to comment directly on the troop movements, noting that routine position changes occur as part of operational military readiness. Meanwhile, amid Houthi attacks from Yemen, the State Department has instructed non-essential personnel and their families to evacuate diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia and other parts of the Gulf region, though State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigot downplayed broader diplomatic evacuation reports.
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Reported by International Desk • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
