Some personnel at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar have been advised to leave by Wednesday evening, according to diplomatic sources, as tensions between the United States and Iran reach a breaking point.
Al Udeid is the largest U.S. military facility in the Middle East, housing approximately 10,000 troops. While diplomats described the move as a "posture change" rather than an ordered evacuation, the shift follows a direct warning from Tehran. Iranian officials stated they would strike U.S. bases in regional ally countries—including Qatar, the UAE, and Turkey—if Washington intervenes in Iran’s ongoing internal unrest.
The warning comes after President Donald Trump vowed "very strong action" if the Iranian government executes protesters. "If they hang them, you’re going to see some things," Trump told CBS News, adding on social media that "help is on the way" for Iranian demonstrators.
Inside Iran, the human rights group HRANA reports the death toll has climbed to nearly 2,600 as authorities attempt to suppress nationwide protests. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department has urged all American citizens to leave Iran immediately, citing a significant risk of arrest and detention.
In a sign of collapsing diplomacy, direct contacts between Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff have been suspended. Iranian leadership has reportedly reached out to regional neighbors, urging them to prevent any U.S. attack from their soil to avoid becoming retaliatory targets.
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