State Department Readies Diplomatic Return to Middle East Posts Following Iran Conflict Evacuations

August 25 (Reuters) — The United States is preparing to redeploy diplomatic personnel to several Middle Eastern embassies that were evacuated prior to and during the conflict with Iran, according to a New York Times report on Tuesday. The report cited an internal State Department document.

The restoration of Foreign Service officers and the gradual rollback of emergency security protocols at U.S. missions throughout the region could commence as early as this week, the newspaper reported.

Reuters was unable to independently confirm the report. The State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment outside standard business hours.

Diplomatic facilities slated to see increased staffing include U.S. embassies and missions in Israel, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Oman, Iraq, and Kuwait, according to the report.

In a statement provided to the New York Times, the State Department confirmed that it “continuously reviews the security posture at our diplomatic missions around the world.”

“Based on our latest assessment, we are adjusting our staffing posture at certain posts in the Middle East to ensure we can continue advancing U.S. foreign policy objectives while protecting the safety and security of our personnel,” the statement added.

According to the internal document, the initial wave of returning diplomats would be assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon, though staffing levels there would remain below full capacity. Ultimately, personnel would return in full to the U.S. embassies in Israel, Jordan, and Oman, the report indicated.

Diplomatic posts in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Lebanon would initially operate at 85 percent staffing capacity, while missions in Iraq, Kuwait, and Bahrain would be capped at 75 percent, per the document.

The staffing reductions originally began in February, when Washington authorized voluntary departures of non-emergency personnel and family members from Israel amid escalating tensions with Iran.

(Reporting by Bipasha Dey in Bengaluru; Editing by Alex Richardson and Conor Humphries)

Source link