US pulls diplomats and families from Mideast posts over Iranian plots

The State Department is cutting staff at several U.S. embassies in the Middle East after an intelligence memo warned that Iranian plots against American personnel have reached advanced stages, while Houthi attacks prompted an ordered departure from Saudi Arabia.

The United States is moving diplomats and their families out of several Middle Eastern posts after U.S. intelligence warned that Iran has stepped up efforts to target American personnel, according to Bloomberg and CNN.

The State Department ordered the departure of non-emergency personnel and all family members from Saudi Arabia, citing escalating Houthi attacks. A department official confirmed that posts in Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates will see "temporary changes to staffing levels under restricted operations," while there are no personnel changes in Bahrain and Kuwait. The department had earlier called reports of broader evacuations across the region "inaccurate."

The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh lit up at night

In an unclassified memo to Secretary of State Marco Rubio dated Oct. 23, Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton wrote that "Iran has substantially increased efforts to target U.S. personnel" and that plotting against U.S. citizens has "reached advanced stages" in the Middle East and certain other countries.

Many of those leaving had only recently returned to their posts after being ordered out during the height of the Iran war, which began nearly eight months ago with U.S. and Israeli strikes. The American Foreign Service Association said families outside Saudi Arabia were told to leave without confirmed housing assistance, while the State Department said affected personnel are receiving per diem and support for lodging and schools.

The moves come as the Iran-backed Houthis step up strikes on Saudi energy sites and airports, and as President Donald Trump has suggested he could relaunch strikes against Iran after the Nov. 3 midterm elections.

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