US Reduces Staff At Qatar Air Base As Tensions Rise Over Iran
The United States is reducing the number of personnel at its Al Udeid air base in Qatar in a move that officials have described as a precaution as tensions in the region escalate.
According to reports from CBS News and Reuters, some US military personnel have been advised to leave the base by Wednesday evening. Diplomats cited in the reports stressed this was not a full evacuation. “It’s a posture change and not an ordered evacuation,” one diplomat said, adding that there was no clear explanation given for the shift.
Qatar confirmed the change, linking it directly to the wider situation in the Middle East. In a statement, the country’s International Media Office said the “measures are being undertaken in response to the current regional tensions”. It added that Qatar continues to prioritise the safety of its citizens, residents and key infrastructure, including military facilities.
Al Udeid, located outside Doha, is the largest US military base in the Middle East and is home to around 10,000 troops. It also serves as the forward headquarters for US Central Command, which oversees American military operations across a vast region.
The decision comes against the backdrop of growing confrontation between Washington and Tehran. US President Donald Trump has warned that the US would take “very strong action” if Iran carries out executions of anti-government protesters. He has also urged Iranians to seize control of state institutions, saying “help is on the way”.
Iran, meanwhile, has warned it would retaliate if attacked. A senior Iranian official, quoted by Reuters, said Tehran had already sent clear messages to countries hosting US forces. “Tehran has told regional countries – from Saudi Arabia and UAE to Turkiye – that US bases in those countries will be attacked if US targets Iran … asking these countries to prevent Washington from attacking Iran.”
The warnings come amid reports from rights groups that more than 2,400 people have been killed during a violent crackdown on protests in Iran.
There has been no comment so far from the US embassy in Doha. However, the situation echoes previous moments of tension. Last year, personnel and families were moved from US bases in the region ahead of American air strikes on Iran, after which Tehran responded with a missile attack on Al Udeid.
Earlier this year, the US announced the opening of a new coordination cell at the base to improve regional air and missile defence, highlighting its ongoing strategic importance despite the latest drawdown.
