{
  "id": 3405348,
  "title": "US starts returning staff to Middle East missions",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/us-starts-returning-staff-to-middle-east-missions",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-26T01:58:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/us-starts-returning-staff-to-middle-east-missions-after-iran-war-evacuations-sources/articleshow/133527237.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The administration of President Donald Trump is beginning to reintroduce personnel to certain diplomatic missions in the Middle East that were previously evacuated or reduced in size due to tensions with Iran, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The cities where staff will return include Lebanon, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Baghdad, Iraq, with family members also permitted to return to the U.S. post in Riyadh. This move indicates Washington's belief that the risk of a near-term escalation of the conflict with Iran is lower. However, some embassies will initially operate at reduced capacity, with some functioning at no more than 85% of authorized personnel levels. The return of some staff is anticipated to commence as early as this week. The U.S. had withdrawn its staff from embassies throughout the Middle East following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. Although heavy fighting has largely ceased, a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports remains in place, and the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for oil and commodity shipping, continues to be shut. Diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict are currently stalled. The State Department continuously assesses the security situation of its missions globally and has adjusted the staffing at specific posts in the Middle East to continue advancing U.S. foreign policy objectives while ensuring the safety and security of its personnel, a State Department spokesperson stated. According to an internal document cited by The New York Times, U.S. embassies in Israel, Jordan, and Oman are expected to return to full staffing, while missions in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Lebanon will initially be capped at 85% staffing. In Iraq, Kuwait, and Bahrain, posts will be limited to 75% staffing.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}