US Orders Nonessential Personnel Back From Embassy in Lebanon

The move comes at a moment of mounting tensions between Iran and the United States, as Iranian leaders have threatened a regional conflict if attacked.

Lebanese security personnel stand guard on a road that leads to the U.S. Embassy in Awkar, a northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, on June 5, 2024. Bilal Hussein/AP Photo

The U.S. State Department has ordered the withdrawal of nonessential personnel from the U.S. embassy in Lebanon amid heightened security concerns.

“We continuously assess the security environment, and based on our latest review, we determined it prudent to reduce our footprint to essential personnel,” a senior State Department official told The Epoch Times on Feb. 23.