The United States and the United Kingdom are reducing the number of military personnel stationed at the Al-Udeid air base in Qatar, as US President Donald Trump considers possible retaliatory actions against Iran over the harsh suppression of anti-government protests.
According to official sources cited by CBS, the BBC’s US partner, the partial withdrawal of American forces is described as a “precautionary measure.” The BBC also reports that some British military personnel are leaving the base.
In a statement, the Qatari government said the measures being taken by the United States are linked to “current regional tensions.” Authorities stressed that ensuring the safety of citizens and residents, as well as protecting critical infrastructure and military facilities, remains a top priority.
Earlier, Donald Trump said the United States would take “very strong action” against Iran if protesters were executed. In response, Tehran warned it would retaliate if the US launched an attack.
According to human rights organizations, more than 2,400 people have been killed during the violent crackdown on demonstrations in Iran.
Al-Udeid air base is the largest US military installation in the Middle East. It hosts around 10,000 American service members and approximately 100 British military personnel. The exact number of troops being withdrawn has not been specified.
A spokesperson for the UK Ministry of Defence declined to comment on reports of British personnel being withdrawn, citing “operational security.”
Reuters reported, citing diplomats, that some service members had been instructed to leave the base, although there were no signs of a mass evacuation similar to that seen ahead of an Iranian strike last year.
Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned Donald Trump that the June attack had demonstrated Iran’s ability to respond to any military action.
“It would certainly help create a real understanding of Iran’s will and capability to respond to any attack,” Shamkhani wrote in a post on X.
Meanwhile, the US mission in Saudi Arabia advised its staff and citizens to exercise increased caution and avoid non-essential travel to any military installations in the region.
Washington continues to threaten intervention over the deaths of protesters in Iran. On Tuesday, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that Iranian authorities would “pay a big price” for the killings and urged people to “keep protesting.”
He also claimed that representatives of Iran’s leadership had contacted him and expressed readiness for negotiations, but said the United States “may have to act before a meeting.”
The Iranian government has accused the US of attempting to “manufacture a pretext for military intervention.” Iran’s parliamentary speaker warned that if the US attacked, American and Israeli military and shipping centers in the region would become legitimate targets.
The latest wave of protests in Iran began in late December following a sharp collapse of the national currency and rising living costs. Economic grievances quickly evolved into political demands, posing one of the most serious challenges to the clerical establishment since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that it has confirmed the deaths of 2,403 protesters so far, including 12 children, despite an internet blackout. According to the group, more than 18,434 people have been arrested during the unrest.