Some US personnel have been urged to leave al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the United States’ largest military installation in the Middle East, as fears of a broader conflict with Iran ripple across the region, according to a US official who described the move as a “precaution” amid rising tensions, CNN reported on Wednesday.
The US Embassy in Saudi Arabia also advised staff to “exercise increased caution and limit non-essential travel to any military installations in the region,” as Arab and Turkish officials intensified diplomatic efforts to dissuade President Trump from taking military action, warning that escalation could destabilize the region, spark refugee flows and provoke reprisals against US interests. “Any military escalation will have consequences for the wider region, including its security and economy,” a regional official told CNN, while Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Ankara was trying to support a “win-win situation” between Washington and Tehran, stressing that “the stability of the region depends on it.”
The developments come as Iranian forces have killed more than 2,000 protesters during unrest at home, Tehran vows retaliation against US interests, and President Trump has doubled down on pressure, calling on Iranians to take over institutions and saying “HELP IS ON ITS WAY,” while cancelling meetings with Iranian officials and prompting regional states, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman, to push urgently for de-escalation.