US recalls personnel from Saudi Arabia and withdraws some troops from bases

The US State Department ordered non-essential personnel and their families to leave Saudi Arabia, while the Pentagon, according to NBC News, moved some troops from bases in Jordan, Qatar and Kuwait.

The United States has begun reducing its diplomatic and military presence in the Middle East amid threats from Iran and its allies. The State Department ordered non-essential personnel and their families to leave Saudi Arabia.

Earlier, Reuters, citing three US officials, reported that similar measures were being prepared for a number of embassies in Persian Gulf countries. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the order applied only to Saudi Arabia and called reports that diplomats’ families were being withdrawn from the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain inaccurate.

Центр управления воздушными операциями на авиабазе Эль-Удейд

NBC News, citing two US officials, reported that the Pentagon had quietly moved some troops from bases in Jordan, Qatar and Kuwait in recent days. The move comes as military officials present President Donald Trump with options for new strikes on Iran. The Pentagon said it regularly redeploys forces and does not discuss such moves for operational security reasons.

Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia have increased in recent days. Two people were killed in a drone strike on the Shaybah oil field operated by Aramco. The war between Iran on one side and the United States and Israel on the other began on February 28, and a ceasefire was announced in April.

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