State Department orders nonessential U.S. diplomats to leave Lebanon as tensions with Iran rise
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Lebanon has been the site of numerous Iran-related retaliatory attacks against the U.S. for decades given Tehran's support for and influence with the Hezbollah militant group.
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The United States Department of State (DOS), or simply the State Department, is an executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for the country's foreign policy and relations. Equivalent to the ministry of foreign affairs of other countries, its primary duties are advising the U.S...
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By — Matthew Lee, Associated Press Matthew Lee, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter State Department orders nonessential U.S. diplomats to leave Lebanon as tensions with Iran rise World Feb 23, 2026 11:58 AM EST WASHINGTON — The United States has ordered nonessential diplomats and their family members at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut to leave Lebanon, a State Department official said Monday, as tensions over Iran rise with the threat of a potentially imminent military strike. The official said a continuous assessment of the regional security environment determined it was "prudent" to draw down the U.S. Embassy's footprint so that only essential personnel remain at their posts. WATCH: Trump suggests limited strikes to push Iran to nuclear deal The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the move had not yet been formally announced, said that it is a temporary measure and that the embassy will remain operational. Lebanon has been the site of numerous Iran-related retaliatory attacks against U.S. facilities, interests and personnel for decades given Tehran's support for and influence with the Hezbollah militant group, which is held responsible for the deadly bombings of the Marine barracks in Beirut in 1983 and an embassy annex in 1984. As such, changes in the staffing status of the embassy in Beirut have often been seen as a bellwether for potential U.S. or Israeli military action in the region, particularly against Iran. A similar ordered departure was imposed for Beirut and other embassies in the region, including in Iraq, shortly before President Donald Trump ordered military strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities last June. It was unclear if other American embassies in the Middle East would implement similar orders. Tensions have escalated between the U.S. and Iran as Trump has built up the largest military presence in the Middle East in decades a...
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