U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorized the voluntary evacuation of military dependents from locations across the Middle East, a U.S. defense official said Wednesday.
He said that the safety and security of service members and their families remain the highest priority. Hegseth said the U.S. and Central Command (CENTCOM) are closely monitoring tensions in the region and are in close coordination with the State Department and regional allies.
The United States has a military presence across the major oil-producing region, with bases in Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
The U.S. State Department has confirmed the evacuation of diplomatic staff from its embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. However, Iraq's state news agency cited a government source as saying Baghdad had not recorded any security indication that called for an evacuation.
Meanwhile, a U.S. official said the State Department had authorized voluntary departures from Bahrain and Kuwait.
The U.S. embassy in Kuwait said in a statement on Wednesday that it had "not changed its staffing posture and remains fully operational."
The State Department updated its worldwide travel advisory on Wednesday evening to reflect the latest U.S. posture.
“On June 11, the Department of State ordered the departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel due to heightened regional tensions,” the advisory said.
The decision by the U.S. to evacuate some personnel comes at a volatile moment in the region. Trump's efforts to reach a nuclear deal with Iran appear to be deadlocked and U.S. intelligence indicates that Israel has been making preparations for a strike against Iran's nuclear facilities.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday the Middle East "could be a dangerous place," adding that the United States would not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon.
The move follows the warning from Iran’s Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh who said that U.S. military bases in the region would be targeted if a conflict breaks out between Tehran and Washington over Iran’s nuclear program.
Although nuclear talks continue through Oman, disagreements over Iran’s uranium enrichment program persist.
An Air India flight en route from Thailand’s Phuket to New Delhi made an emergency landing on Friday following a bomb threat, prompting a full-scale evacuation of 156 passengers.
Iran has announced it will not participate in the upcoming round of nuclear negotiations with the United States, citing Washington’s support for Israel as a key reason.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 13th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
With Iranian, Iraqi and Israeli skies abruptly restricted, Heydar Aliyev International Airport stepped in as a regional lifeline on Friday morning, safely receiving a stream of diverted jets from six international carriers and underscoring Baku’s capacity to reroute air traffic in a crisis.
Republican Senator Roger Wicker has warned Iran against targeting American troops amid rising tensions in the Middle East, saying the U.S. military is prepared for any retaliatory strikes.
An Air India flight en route from Thailand’s Phuket to New Delhi made an emergency landing on Friday following a bomb threat, prompting a full-scale evacuation of 156 passengers.
Foreign ministers from major European nations expressed readiness to increase pressure on Russia, including potential new sanctions targeting the energy and banking sectors, to undermine its war efforts in Ukraine.
Iran has announced it will not participate in the upcoming round of nuclear negotiations with the United States, citing Washington’s support for Israel as a key reason.
The U.S. dollar advanced on Friday as investors rushed back into the currency and other safe-haven assets including U.S. Treasury bonds and gold after Israel launched widescale strikes against Iran, sparking Iranian retaliation.
A USAID official and three business owners pleaded guilty to a 10-year bribery scheme involving at least 14 prime contracts worth over $550 million in U.S. taxpayer dollars.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 8th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay is in critical condition after being shot three times — including twice in the head — during a campaign event in Bogotá.
Pakistan will begin its first freight train service to Russia from Lahore on June 22. The route is part of the INSTC and aims to connect Pakistan's rail network with Central Asia, establishing a new trade corridor via Iran, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan and the UK are strengthening defense ties with a new Military Cooperation Plan, focusing on peacekeeping and military education.
A 30-year-old woman was shot by police in Munich on Saturday evening after stabbing two people at Theresienwiese, a central park best known for hosting Oktoberfest.
Republican Senator Roger Wicker has warned Iran against targeting American troops amid rising tensions in the Middle East, saying the U.S. military is prepared for any retaliatory strikes.
The Turkish-built Oruc Reis seismic vessel has successfully concluded its first intercontinental mission in Somali waters, conducting a 3D seismic survey over 4,464 square kilometres.
On 12 June, the fourth political dialogue between the deputy foreign ministers of Türkiye and Greece was held in Ankara.
Only one person survived the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, among 242 on board, according to the police authorities.
At Baku's Military Court, Levon Mnatsakanyan admitted planting landmines in Azerbaijani territories.
An Air India flight en route from Thailand’s Phuket to New Delhi made an emergency landing on Friday following a bomb threat, prompting a full-scale evacuation of 156 passengers.
Foreign ministers from major European nations expressed readiness to increase pressure on Russia, including potential new sanctions targeting the energy and banking sectors, to undermine its war efforts in Ukraine.
Iran has announced it will not participate in the upcoming round of nuclear negotiations with the United States, citing Washington’s support for Israel as a key reason.
The U.S. dollar advanced on Friday as investors rushed back into the currency and other safe-haven assets including U.S. Treasury bonds and gold after Israel launched widescale strikes against Iran, sparking Iranian retaliation.
A USAID official and three business owners pleaded guilty to a 10-year bribery scheme involving at least 14 prime contracts worth over $550 million in U.S. taxpayer dollars.
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