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.
Outline draft peace proposals discussed by the United States and Ukraine could become the basis of future agreements to end the conflict in Ukraine, b...
The wife and son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro visited the jailed right-wing leader at the Federal Police facilities in Brasília on Th...
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Thursday (27 November) that his country will hold talks on Friday aimed at securing sufficient Russian c...
Turkish construction giants Kalyon Insaat and Cengiz Insaat will take part in the modernisation and expansion of Damascus International Airport, a pro...
As the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor (TCTC) gains renewed momentum, Central Asia and the European Union (EU) are working to turn long-standing conn...
Former Transport Minister Jose Luis Abalos was taken to Soto del Real prison on Thursday following a ruling by Spain’s Supreme Court ordering his pre-trial detention over a corruption scandal that has embroiled Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s left-wing government.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Thursday (27 November) that his country will hold talks on Friday aimed at securing sufficient Russian crude oil and gas supplies.
Turkish construction giants Kalyon Insaat and Cengiz Insaat will take part in the modernisation and expansion of Damascus International Airport, a project also involving Qatari firm UCC, US-based Assets Investments, the Syrian Finance Ministry, and the Syrian Civil Aviation General Authority.
As the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor (TCTC) gains renewed momentum, Central Asia and the European Union (EU) are working to turn long-standing connectivity ambitions into concrete trade routes, investment deals and infrastructure upgrades.
massive fire that swept through the Wang Fuk Court housing complex in Hong Kong’s northern district of Tai Po has claimed 83 lives, with nearly 300 residents initially reported missing, authorities confirmed on Thursday.
A passenger aircraft from Polish carrier LOT veered off a taxiway at Lithuania's Vilnius airport after arriving from Warsaw on Wednesday, halting all traffic, the airport operator said.
At least 36 people have died in a fire that ravaged a residential apartment complex on Wednesday according to John Lee the chief executive of Hong Kong.
Netflix crashed on Wednesday for about an hour in the U.S. as it launched season five of "Stranger Things", with the service becoming inaccessible to many subscribers within minutes of the episodes going live at 8 p.m. local time.
Thousands of Bulgarians took to the streets of Sofia on Wednesday to protest against the government’s draft budget for 2026, the first to be prepared in euros ahead of the country’s planned eurozone entry on 1 January 2026.
On 27 November, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Luca Beccari, San Marino’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Political Affairs, International Economic Cooperation and Digital Transition, during an official visit to Italy.
Turkish construction giants Kalyon Insaat and Cengiz Insaat will take part in the modernisation and expansion of Damascus International Airport, a project also involving Qatari firm UCC, US-based Assets Investments, the Syrian Finance Ministry, and the Syrian Civil Aviation General Authority.
As the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor (TCTC) gains renewed momentum, Central Asia and the European Union (EU) are working to turn long-standing connectivity ambitions into concrete trade routes, investment deals and infrastructure upgrades.
Pope Leo continued his visit to Türkiye in Istanbul on Thursday (27 November), following a round of meetings in Ankara. This marks his first trip outside Italy since being elected in May as the leader of the 1.4-billion-strong Catholic Church.
Acting U.S. Ambassador Alan Purcell met with Georgia’s Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili to discuss economic ties, sanctions, and Georgia’s potential role in the U.S. TRIPP regional initiative.According to the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi, the discussion touched on Georgia’s economic development, U.S.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment