The U.S. military has advised some personnel at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar to depart as a precaution, as tensions with Iran continue to rise.
U.S. officials and diplomats confirmed that certain personnel at the base were told to leave by Wednesday evening. Al Udeid is the largest U.S. military installation in the Middle East and a central hub for U.S. Central Command operations.
Officials stressed that the move is not a full evacuation.
As of Wednesday morning, the drawdown was ongoing ahead of potential military action against Iran ordered by President Donald Trump. Hundreds of troops at the base are being moved to other U.S. facilities and hotels elsewhere in the region to reduce their exposure in the event of Iranian retaliation, according to a U.S. official and a person familiar with the matter who spoke with NBC News.
Key points from officials include:
- The advisory applies only to some personnel, not the entire base
- Operations at Al Udeid are continuing
- There is no indication of an imminent attack
The Pentagon declined to specify how many personnel were affected.
The advisory comes as Iranian officials have stepped up warnings toward Washington. Tehran has threatened to strike U.S. military installations in the region if the United States intervenes in the ongoing unrest inside Iran.
The Islamic Republic continues to be shaken by large-scale anti-government protests. Estimates of the death toll range widely, from roughly 2,000 to as many as 20,000, according to diplomats and human rights groups. If accurate, those figures would place the crackdown among the deadliest episodes in the country’s modern history.
U.S. officials are also mindful of recent history. In June 2025, Iran launched a missile attack on Al Udeid in retaliation for U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
For now, the situation remains fluid. Additional posture changes could be made if threats increase, and personnel could return if tensions ease.
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Trump is a traitor. Bought by Adelson and Co. to be some errand boy for Israel.