US is reducing staffing at 4 Middle East embassies over increased threats from Iran

The United States is rapidly evacuating diplomats and their families from missions across the Middle East due to growing concerns over regional tensions and potential strikes against Iran, according to a CNN report. The U.S. State Department has instructed nonessential personnel and their families to depart Saudi Arabia, while simultaneously reducing staff at embassies in Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Lebanon.

American diplomats have expressed frustration with the chaotic and haphazard evacuation process, describing it as akin to a "sh** show" similar to the initial evacuation during the Iran war earlier this year. Many staff members and their families had only recently returned to the region after the prior evacuation. The Foreign Service Association, representing U.S. Foreign Service officers, reported "bureaucratic ping-pong" surrounding the evacuation process and concerns over the financial burden of relocating families again, with the government failing to provide sufficient assistance for the expenses.

The State Department clarified earlier that the order to leave Saudi Arabia applied only to non-emergency U.S. government employees and their families, as the kingdom has been targeted by Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen, resulting in civilian casualties and disruptions to travel. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott confirmed on X/Twitter that the departure was specifically for non-emergency personnel and their families in Saudi Arabia, due to attacks on civilian targets in the kingdom.