WASHINGTON — The United States has started relocating hundreds of troops from its largest military air base in the Middle East as President Donald Trump weighs possible military action against Iran amid a deadly government crackdown on protesters, U.S. officials said.
Personnel have begun departing Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar and are being moved to other facilities and temporary accommodations elsewhere in the region. The precautionary step is intended to reduce the risk to U.S. forces should Iran retaliate against American interests in response to any U.S. strike, according to a U.S. official and a source familiar with the operation.
Qatar’s government confirmed that personnel were being withdrawn from the base due to heightened regional tensions, saying it was taking “all necessary measures” to ensure public safety. Separately, the U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia issued an advisory urging American personnel and citizens to exercise increased caution and avoid non-essential travel to military installations across the region.
Al Udeid serves as a central hub for U.S. air operations in the Middle East and hosts thousands of American troops. The current drawdown appears to be a coordinated, early-stage effort, contrasting with a more urgent evacuation carried out last year ahead of a U.S. operation targeting Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities — an action that prompted Iranian missile retaliation against the base.
The latest move comes as Trump considers a range of responses to Iran’s violent suppression of nationwide protests sparked by economic turmoil. Iranian officials have warned that U.S. and Israeli military bases would be legitimate targets if Washington launches an attack.
“U.S. military and maritime centers will be our legitimate targets,” Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said in remarks broadcast on state television.
Mounting pressure over protests
Iran has been rocked by weeks of unrest, with human rights groups reporting a death toll far higher than any crackdown seen in decades. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency estimates that at least 2,500 people have been killed since protests erupted last month, including nearly 150 members of the security forces. The group also reports that roughly 18,000 people have been arrested.
The Iranian government has imposed a sweeping internet blackout, limiting information flow, though sporadic videos and phone calls have emerged showing widespread violence and mass casualties. Human rights organizations say executions linked to the protests are imminent, including that of a 26-year-old man whose death sentence was reportedly handed down without due process.
Trump has warned Tehran of “very strong action” if executions proceed, though he has acknowledged uncertainty over the exact scale of the casualties. While some U.S. allies in the region and Europe have privately urged restraint, Trump has signaled that diplomatic talks with Iran are paused as long as the violence continues.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot described the crackdown as possibly “the most violent repression in Iran’s contemporary history” and called for it to end immediately.
Iran pushes back
Iranian authorities have rejected accusations of mass killings, claiming many of those who died were ordinary citizens caught in unrest driven by “rioters” and “terrorists.” Tehran has also accused the United States of fomenting instability to create a pretext for military intervention.
A large, heavily secured funeral was held in Tehran this week for security personnel and civilians killed during the unrest, according to reports.
As tensions rise, Trump has intensified economic pressure on Iran, including new tariffs on entities doing business with the country. At the same time, he has publicly encouraged Iranian protesters to continue demonstrating, promising that international support is forthcoming.
The partial evacuation at Al Udeid underscores growing concern within the U.S. military about the risk of escalation. While no final decision on military action has been announced, the movement of troops signals that Washington is preparing for a range of possible outcomes as the crisis deepens.
