The US government has ordered all non-essential personnel to leave its embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, following a security review amid rising tensions in the region. A senior State Department official said the move is intended to protect staff while maintaining essential operations.
About 50 embassy staff were instructed to depart, with 32 staff members and their families flying out of Beirut airport on Monday. The embassy remains operational with core personnel 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 official said.
The partial evacuation comes as President Donald Trump warned of “bad things” if Iran does not reach an agreement over its nuclear programme. Iran has previously vowed retaliation if attacked, with US bases and facilities across the Middle East considered potential targets.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has delayed a planned trip to Israel, though no official reason was given. He is still expected to travel at a later date. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the situation as “complex and challenging” and said Israel is prepared for any scenario.
The US has reinforced its military presence near Iran, deploying destroyers, combat ships, fighter jets, and the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford, to the region. Satellite imagery has also shown the USS Abraham Lincoln positioned off the coast of Oman, approximately 700 km (430 miles) from Iran.
While talks between the US and Iran in Switzerland last week have reportedly made progress, Trump has indicated a possible 10-day deadline for a deal, raising concerns about potential military action. US officials have not clarified what measures will follow the deadline or whether an attack could occur sooner.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he still believes a diplomatic resolution is possible. Meanwhile, anti-government protests erupted at several Iranian universities over the weekend, the first of their scale since a deadly crackdown earlier this year. Trump has previously voiced support for the protesters, stating that regime change in Iran would be “the best thing that could happen.”
