The development comes after Iran said it had had warned neighbors hosting American troops that it would hit US bases if Washington strikes. The United States is withdrawing its troops from key bases in the Middle East as a precaution amid heightened regional tensions and threat from Iran, mutliple reports said on Wednesday. A US official said that several personnel from a key base in Qatar were advised to evacuate by Wednesday evening.
The development comes after Iran, in the face of threats by the US, said earlier on Wednesday that it had had warned neighbors hosting American troops that it would hit US bases if Washington strikes. Personnel deployed at Qatar’s Al Udeid military base were told to depart. Qatar holds the largest American military base in the Middle East.
The move at the Al Udeid Air Base has been referred to as a precautionary measure by US officials. The official, however, didn’t elaborate on the details about the move, including whether the evacuation was optional or mandatory.Reacting to the development, Qatar said that such measures were being “undertaken in response to the current regional tensions.”
“The IMO reaffirms that the State of Qatar continues to implement all necessary measures to safeguard the security and safety of its citizens and residents as a top priority, including actions related to the protection of critical infrastructure and military facilities,” Qatar’s media office said in a post on X.
Earlier in the day, Iran warned its neighbours in the Middle East hosting US troops that it would hit American bases if Washington strikes. The warning comes after US President Donald Trump told the Iranian protestors to “keep protesting”, asking them to take over their institutions. The remark adds to speculations of the US interventions in Iran as the country faces one of the worst unrest in recent history. The death toll in the protest has reached to at least 2,571 people, according to US-based Human Rights Activists.
