The United States is moving some diplomats and their family members from several Middle Eastern countries amid growing fears of a wider regional escalation, according to a CNN report citing multiple sources familiar with the matter.
The departures come as Iran-backed Houthi forces have intensified attacks on Saudi Arabia, while US President Donald Trump has suggested the possibility of renewed strikes against Iran after the midterm elections.
The State Department has also been adjusting staffing levels at several US embassies across the region, including in Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Lebanon, sources told CNN.
A State Department official confirmed that Lebanon, the UAE, Qatar and Jordan would experience temporary staffing changes under restricted operations. The official said there were no changes to staffing in Kuwait or Bahrain.
The moves follow a decision earlier this week to order the departure of non-emergency personnel and all family members from Saudi Arabia in response to escalating Houthi attacks.
Unlike the Saudi Arabia evacuation order, the latest departures from other diplomatic missions have not been publicly announced. The State Department maintains that the affected embassies remain under restricted operations rather than moving to a new formal status.
Diplomatic Families Frustrated Over Relocation Costs
The departures have caused frustration among US diplomats and their families, many of whom had only recently returned to their posts after leaving during the height of the Iran war earlier this year.
Several families are now facing the prospect of relocating again, arranging new accommodation and finding schools for their children, with concerns over whether they will receive adequate financial assistance.
“To say it has been chaotic is an understatement,” one US diplomat told CNN, arguing that the financial support offered so far does not cover the costs of relocating entire families.
Nikki Gamer, spokesperson for the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), said some families had barely settled back into their posts before being told to leave again.
The union also raised concerns about a lack of clarity over housing assistance and daily allowances for families outside Saudi Arabia.
“Families deserve to know how they will pay for a place to live before they board a plane,” Gamer told CNN.
A State Department official said personnel and their families were receiving daily allowances and support for accommodation and schooling, with payments based on government rates applicable to their locations.
The official acknowledged the difficulties faced by diplomatic staff under restricted or departure orders, adding that the department was communicating directly with affected personnel and would provide further information.
Fears of Wider Regional Escalation
The staffing adjustments come amid rising tensions involving Iran, Israel, the United States and Iran-backed groups across the Middle East.
The State Department has repeatedly warned that Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia could escalate rapidly beyond the immediate area.
Meanwhile, CNN reported that Israel had lobbied for more immediate US action against Iran, although such action had not materialised at the time of publication.
Trump has also suggested that Washington could resume strikes against Iran after the US midterm elections.
The latest diplomatic movements underscore growing concerns within the US government about the security of personnel and their families as regional hostilities intensify.
