US Prepares to Evacuate Diplomats From Gulf States Amid Rising Tensions

The United States is reportedly preparing to order some embassy staff and their families to leave Gulf countries, according to three American sources cited by Reuters. This potential move comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran and concerns about a renewed military conflict in the Middle East. The report specifies that this is a preparation for a mandatory departure order, not an evacuation that has already occurred. Details regarding which embassies would be affected, the number of personnel involved, and the timeline for implementation have not yet been released. It is also unclear if this preparation is based on specific intelligence about a concrete threat.

A senior U.S. State Department official clarified that any such announcement regarding the evacuation of diplomatic personnel pertains solely to Saudi Arabia, attributing the measure to the ongoing war with the Houthis. A mandatory departure order, known as an "Ordered Departure" by the U.S. government, requires certain staff and their families to leave a country for security reasons. However, it does not necessarily mean the complete closure of an embassy, as essential personnel may continue diplomatic operations.

This potential directive marks a shift from August, when the U.S. began returning staff to some Middle Eastern diplomatic missions, including those in Saudi Arabia, Israel, Lebanon, and Iraq, after previous evacuations or reductions due to the war that began in February. In March, Washington had already ordered non-essential employees and their families to leave missions in the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, and Jordan following the expansion of the conflict and attacks on American facilities in the region. The current preparation could indicate a growing U.S. concern for the safety of diplomatic staff in the event of further escalation, though it does not confirm a decision to launch a military attack.