US orders non-emergency personnel to leave Beirut embassy amid tensions
Al Jazeera
US official says Washington determined it was ‘prudent to reduce our footprint to essential personnel’ in Lebanon.
The United States has ordered the departure of non-emergency personnel at its embassy in Beirut, a senior US State Department official has confirmed, amid escalating tensions in the region.
The move on Monday comes as the US continues to amass military assets in the Middle East, with President Donald Trump threatening to attack Iran almost daily.
“We continuously assess the security environment, and based on our latest review, we determined it prudent to reduce our footprint to essential personnel,” the US official told Al Jazeera.
“The embassy remains operational with core staff in place. This is a temporary measure intended to ensure the safety of our personnel while maintaining our ability to operate and assist US citizens.”
The departure order also covered “eligible family members” of non-emergency embassy staff.
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