Washington withdraws personnel from Middle East ahead of Iranian retaliation
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on La Nouvelle Tribune
The United States has withdrawn some personnel from several bases and facilities in the Middle East, while remaining forces prepare for possible Iranian retaliation. The moves follow a US intelligence warning about threats to American personnel, according to the New York Times.
US forces remaining in the Middle East have trained to handle large numbers of casualties in preparation for possible Iranian retaliation. The Pentagon and State Department have meanwhile withdrawn some personnel from several bases and facilities in the region, the New York Times reported in an article published on 5 November 2026.
The moves follow a memo from Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, warning of increased Iranian efforts targeting American personnel. US Central Command spokesman Timothy Hawkins declined to comment on the movements and said forces were regularly repositioned to optimise their readiness for missions, according to the New York Times.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott, for his part, described as inaccurate reports of new diplomatic withdrawals in the Gulf. Several posts had nevertheless already reduced their staffing levels. White House officials had previously said that no new operation against Iran would take place before the US midterm elections on 3 November, which have now passed.
The withdrawal recalls the arrangements put in place before the start of the war on 28 February 2026, when the Pentagon moved most of its troops out of bases deemed too exposed. It comes after the US midterm elections, won by the Democrats on 5 November, and as Washington had considered a strike against Iran as early as 4 November.
