Personnel at a significant U.S. military installation in Qatar have been instructed to leave by Wednesday evening, according to a U.S. official. This decision follows remarks by a senior Iranian official recalling a previous attack by Iran on the base.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive information, the official informed The Associated Press that the evacuation at Al Udeid Air Base is a precautionary step. Details regarding whether the evacuation is voluntary or mandatory, the types of personnel affected, or the number of people involved were not disclosed, citing operational security concerns.
Qatar responded on Wednesday, explaining that these actions are “being undertaken in response to the current regional tensions.”
“The State of Qatar remains committed to implementing all necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of its citizens and residents, placing a high priority on protecting critical infrastructure and military facilities,” stated Qatar’s media office in a post on X.
The Pentagon has refrained from commenting on this development. The State Department also has not issued any comments regarding potential security alerts for American diplomats or civilians in Qatar. Back in June, the U.S. embassy in Doha had issued a brief advisory for American citizens to shelter in place, yet there were no evacuations or advisories to leave the country at that time.
This precautionary move occurs amidst ongoing anti-government protests in Iran. Additionally, former President Donald Trump has expressed readiness to conduct military actions against Iran if the government persists in retaliating against the demonstrators.
The base, which hosts thousands of U.S. service members, was targeted by Iran in June in retaliation for U.S. strikes on its nuclear facilities.
Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on the social platform X wrote “the #US President, who repeatedly talks about the futile aggression against #Iran’s nuclear facilities, would do well to also mention the destruction of the US base in #Al-Udeid by Iranian missiles.”
“It would certainly help create a real understanding of Iran’s will and ability to respond to any aggression,” he added.
Iranian and Qatari officials had spoken on Tuesday amid the deadly crackdown in Iran and America’s escalating threats to intervene if protesters are not spared.
Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, had a phone call with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar’s prime minister.
In a statement on X, Al Thani said that he “reaffirmed the State of Qatar’s backing of all de-escalation efforts, as well as peaceful solutions to enhance security and stability in the region.”
Iran’s decision in June to retaliate against U.S. strikes by targeting the sprawling desert facility outside Doha created a rare tension between the two maritime neighbors, with Qatari officials saying it caught them by surprise.
No American or Qatari personnel were harmed, the U.S. military’s Central Command said at the time, noting that the two forces worked together to defend the base. A Qatari military officer said one of 19 missiles fired by Iran was not intercepted and hit the base, but the Republican U.S. president said in a social media post at the time that “hardly any damage was done.”
The Gulf state has been caught in the crossfire of other regional tensions, including an Israeli strike in September on the headquarters of Hamas’ political leadership in Doha while the group’s top figures had been gathered to consider a U.S. proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
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