Us Evacuates Embassy Staff From Beirut Amid Regional Tensions

On February 23, 2026, the United States State Department ordered the evacuation of non-emergency personnel from its embassy in Beirut, citing escalating tensions in the region, particularly between Israel and Hezbollah. A U.S. official stated that it was deemed 'prudent to reduce our footprint to essential personnel' in Lebanon, reflecting growing concerns over safety amidst the volatile situation (Al Jazeera). This decision follows a broader trend of U.S. military repositioning in the Middle East, as reported by the Daily Times, which noted that hundreds of troops were also withdrawn from key bases in Qatar and Bahrain due to rising tensions with Iran. The Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which hosts approximately 10,000 troops, was specifically mentioned as a site of precautionary troop redeployments (Daily Times).