(United States, 12th) The US State Department announced on the 11th that it has instructed non-essential personnel and their families at the US Embassy in Iraq to evacuate.
The State Department said in a statement that it is "continuously evaluating the appropriateness of the deployment of embassy personnel… based on the latest analysis, we have decided to reduce the size of the diplomatic mission in Iraq."
Meanwhile, the Pentagon also pointed out on the same day that Defense Secretary Hagseth approved the voluntary evacuation of military families stationed in the Middle East.
US media, citing anonymous Department of Defense officials, reported that the US Central Command is monitoring the "increasingly tense situation in the Middle East."
CNN, citing informed sources, reported that due to increased security risks in the Middle East, the State Department is also preparing to order the evacuation of non-essential personnel from the US embassies in Bahrain and Kuwait.
The State Department and the Department of Defense did not specify the security risks prompting the evacuation decision, but many analysts believe it is related to concerns over Israel possibly striking Iranian nuclear facilities.
Recently, tensions between Iran and Israel have escalated, and since April, the US-Iran negotiations over Iran's nuclear issue have made no progress. US President Trump said in an interview aired on the 11th that he is becoming "increasingly less confident" in reaching an agreement with Iran over its nuclear issue.
Trump also stated at an event at the Kennedy Center on the 11th that non-essential personnel are being evacuated from the Middle East, "because it could be a dangerous place, and we will see what happens."
The State Department said in a statement that it is "continuously evaluating the appropriateness of the deployment of embassy personnel… based on the latest analysis, we have decided to reduce the size of the diplomatic mission in Iraq."
Meanwhile, the Pentagon also pointed out on the same day that Defense Secretary Hagseth approved the voluntary evacuation of military families stationed in the Middle East.
US media, citing anonymous Department of Defense officials, reported that the US Central Command is monitoring the "increasingly tense situation in the Middle East."
CNN, citing informed sources, reported that due to increased security risks in the Middle East, the State Department is also preparing to order the evacuation of non-essential personnel from the US embassies in Bahrain and Kuwait.
The State Department and the Department of Defense did not specify the security risks prompting the evacuation decision, but many analysts believe it is related to concerns over Israel possibly striking Iranian nuclear facilities.
Recently, tensions between Iran and Israel have escalated, and since April, the US-Iran negotiations over Iran's nuclear issue have made no progress. US President Trump said in an interview aired on the 11th that he is becoming "increasingly less confident" in reaching an agreement with Iran over its nuclear issue.
Trump also stated at an event at the Kennedy Center on the 11th that non-essential personnel are being evacuated from the Middle East, "because it could be a dangerous place, and we will see what happens."