The precautionary evacuation, described by an anonymous U.S. official as part of broader measures across the region, reflected deepening uncertainty over U.S. military exposure in the Persian Gulf as President Donald Trump sent conflicting signals about whether he would act — and whether the Iranian government had already stepped back from targeting protesters.
Some U.S. military personnel at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar were advised to evacuate by Wednesday evening, according to a U.S. official and the Qatari government, as tensions with Iran mounted following a violent crackdown on anti-government protesters that began in late December.
The advisory came hours after Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, publicly referenced Iran’s June missile strike on the base — a warning that Tehran retained both the will and the means to strike American installations in the Gulf.
The U.S. official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive plans, described the evacuation measures as precautionary and said similar steps were being taken at other U.S. military installations across the region. The official declined to specify whether the advisory was optional or mandatory, how many people were affected, or whether it applied to troops, civilian personnel, or both.
Embassy notices issued
The U.S. Embassy in Qatar issued a notice Thursday saying it had “advised its personnel to exercise increased caution and limit non-essential travel” to Al Udeid Air Base. “We recommend U.S. citizens in Qatar do the same,” the notice added.
In Kuwait, the U.S. embassy ordered a “temporary halt” to its personnel traveling to multiple military bases in the country. Kuwait hosts U.S. Army Central, the service’s Middle East command.
Qatar said the measures at Al Udeid were “undertaken in response to the current regional tensions.” Qatar’s international media office said the country “continues to implement all necessary measures to safeguard the security and safety of its citizens and residents as a top priority, including actions related to the protection of critical infrastructure and military facilities.”
Iran’s public warning
Shamkhani wrote on X that Trump “would do well to also mention the destruction of the US base in #Al-Udeid by Iranian missiles” when discussing U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear program. “It would certainly help create a real understanding of Iran’s will and ability to respond to any aggression,” he added.
Iran attacked Al Udeid in June in retaliation for U.S. strikes on its nuclear facilities. The U.S. military’s Central Command said no American or Qatari personnel was harmed. A Qatari military officer said one of 19 missiles fired by Iran was not intercepted and struck the base. Trump said at the time that “hardly any damage was done.”
Iran’s decision to strike the base had strained the relationship between Tehran and Doha. Qatar’s officials said the June attack caught them by surprise.
Trump’s shifting signals
Anti-government demonstrations in Iran began in late December. Trump has said he is willing to conduct military operations against Iran if the Tehran government continues to kill and arrest protesters.
On Wednesday, Trump told reporters that he had been told the targeting of protesters and plans for executions in Iran had stopped, without providing further details. The vague statement left unclear as of Wednesday night what U.S. action, if any, would follow.
Diplomatic contacts
Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, held a phone call Tuesday with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar’s prime minister. Al Thani said he “reaffirmed the State of Qatar’s backing of all de-escalation efforts, as well as peaceful solutions to enhance security and stability in the region.”
U.S. naval posture
The U.S. military has reduced its naval presence in the region in recent months. The USS Gerald R. Ford, described as the world’s largest aircraft carrier, was ordered in October to sail from the Mediterranean Sea to the Caribbean Sea along with several destroyers, as part of a pressure campaign tied to Venezuela. The USS Nimitz, which participated in the June strikes on Iran’s nuclear program, also departed the region in October.
The Navy had five small ships — two destroyers and three littoral combat ships — in waters off Iran as of Tuesday.
The Pentagon declined to comment on the changes at Al Udeid. The State Department had no immediate comment on the potential for additional security alerts for American diplomats or civilians in Qatar.