The US evacuates embassy staff in Lebanon as military tensions with Iran escalate, with diplomatic talks set for Thursday amid stark divisions.
WASHINGTON: The US State Department is withdrawing non-essential personnel and their families from its embassy in Beirut.
A senior official, speaking anonymously, stated the move is a “prudent” step based on a continuous security assessment.
“The Embassy remains operational with core staff in place,” the official said. “This is a temporary measure intended to ensure the safety of our personnel while maintaining our ability to operate.”
READ MORE: Iran warns US any military strike would trigger fierce response
Sources indicated dozens of staff and dependents departed on flights from Beirut airport on Monday. The evacuation coincides with a major US military build-up in the Middle East and heightened rhetoric.
President Donald Trump warned on Monday that it will be a “very bad day” for Iran if no deal is reached over Tehran’s nuclear programme. Iran has threatened to strike American bases in the region if attacked.
An internal State Department cable instructed staff in emergency positions wishing to leave to consult on alternative arrangements. The department also reiterated a “do not travel” advisory for Lebanon for US citizens.
Remaining embassy personnel face personal travel restrictions, which may be tightened “with little to no notice”. American interests were repeatedly targeted in Lebanon during the 1975-90 civil war.
The US held Iran-backed Hezbollah responsible for attacks including the 1983 suicide bombings of the US Marine barracks and the US embassy in Beirut.
Diplomatic efforts continue despite the tensions. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is still scheduled to travel to Israel on Saturday to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“The schedule remains subject to change,” a US official said. The core dispute centres on Iran’s nuclear programme, which Washington views as a potential pathway to weapons.
Iran denies seeking an atomic bomb. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said he expects to meet US special envoy Steve Witkoff in Geneva on Thursday.
Araqchi added there was still “a good chance” of a diplomatic solution, which a US official confirmed. However, a senior Iranian official said the sides remain “sharply divided” over sanctions relief.
In a social media post, Trump stated, “I would rather have a Deal than not but, if we don’t make a Deal, it will be a very bad day for that Country.” Reports suggest the two nations are sliding rapidly toward military conflict as diplomacy stalls.
It would mark the second US-Israeli attack on Iran in under a year, following airstrikes last June. On Sunday, Witkoff questioned why Iran has not yet “capitulated” and agreed to curb its nuclear activities.
The Sun Malaysia
