On the 23rd (local time), Al Jazeera reported that the U.S. government ordered the withdrawal of non-essential staff from the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, amid rising tensions in the Middle East due to U.S. pressure on Iran to abandon its nuclear program.
A U.S. government official told the broadcast, “We continuously evaluate the security environment, and the recent review concluded that it is wise to reduce the presence to essential personnel only.” The U.S. Embassy in Beirut also commented, “Due to increasing security issues or threats, additional travel restrictions on employees may be imposed without prior notice.” Reuters reported that about 50 American embassy staff received withdrawal orders, and 32 of these staff, along with their families, have already left the country.
This action comes as President Donald Trump threatens to attack Iran if it does not agree to abandon its nuclear program, while the U.S. is enhancing its military presence in the Middle East.
On the 19th, President Trump issued an ultimatum regarding the nuclear negotiations with Iran, stating that “something bad” will happen if a meaningful agreement is not reached within 15 days. Large-scale U.S. military forces, including destroyers, warships, and fighter jets, are gathering near Iran. The BBC reported that the world’s largest warship, the USS Gerald R. Ford, is heading to the region, and satellite images have captured the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, about 700 km off the coast of Oman from Iran.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio has postponed his planned visit to Israel. According to reports by The Guardian and others, Secretary Rubio was supposed to visit Israel on the 21st to hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but the visit has been rescheduled to the 28th.
Prime Minister Netanyahu stated in the Israeli Parliament on the 23rd, “We are keeping our eyes open and preparing for all scenarios,” emphasizing that if Iran decides to attack Israel, “the response will be with unimaginable force.”