Some US personnel at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar advised to leave as a ‘posture change’ amid warnings from Washington over Iran protests.
DOHA: Some personnel have been advised to leave the US military’s Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar by Wednesday evening, according to three diplomats.
The move comes amid warnings from Washington that it could intervene to protect protesters in Iran.
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The US embassy in Doha had no immediate comment on the development.
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation or comment.
Al Udeid is the largest US military base in the Middle East, housing approximately 10,000 troops.
“It’s a posture change and not an ordered evacuation,” one of the diplomats told Reuters.
The diplomat added that he was not aware a specific reason had been given for the posture change.
A senior Iranian official earlier warned that Tehran would strike US military bases if attacked by Washington.
This followed US President Donald Trump’s threat to intervene in Iran.
Last year, personnel and families were moved off US bases in the Middle East more than a week before the US launched air strikes on Iran.
Iran subsequently launched a missile attack on the base in Qatar following the US strikes in June. – Reuters
