US scales back troops and diplomats in Middle East, NBC reports
The United States has begun pulling troops from its bases and reducing diplomatic staff in Middle Eastern countries because of threats from Iran, NBC News reported, citing two US officials and two other sources.
"According to sources, the troop reduction is a response to continuing threats in the region and comes as President Trump considers new military action in Iran," NBC wrote.
Bases and embassies
Over recent days the US has been quietly reducing its presence at military bases in the region, and the State Department has ordered a further reduction of staff at several diplomatic missions. One official and one source told NBC that moving US forces to safer locations is part of the military leadership's plans as Trump considers resuming large-scale combat in Iran.
The sources said the bases are in Jordan, Qatar and Kuwait, though the US reportedly plans to keep a small presence there, including for air defence, as it did when forces were relocated before the war with Iran.
US Central Command spokesman Timothy Hawkins said: "We regularly move US service members and assets to optimise readiness... For operational security reasons, we do not discuss such movements."
US diplomatic missions have worked with limited staff since the war with Iran began. On 21 October the heads of several missions in the region reportedly received notice of further staff cuts. The State Department also announced that the US embassy in Saudi Arabia is now on "ordered departure", meaning it continues with only part of its staff.
Responding to reports of an alleged departure order for some staff at all US embassies in the Gulf, State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott stressed that only non-critical US government staff in Saudi Arabia are leaving. He explained the decision by saying that Iran-backed Houthis are increasingly drawn into fighting against Saudi Arabia, which has caused civilian casualties.
Background
In early October Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacked two airports in southern Saudi Arabia, killing people. According to a recent US Congress study, Trump's decision to start the war against Iran cost American taxpayers about $38 billion in direct costs in the first five months of fighting. The war also depleted ammunition stocks that the US may need at least five years to rebuild, reducing the ability of US forces to respond to another major conflict.
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