US orders senior personnel out of Mideast base as Iran doubles down on threats

Senior officers stationed at US air base in Qatar reportedly ordered to leave as Iran doubles down on its threats to attack American bases in the Middle East if US carries out strikes.

By World Israel News Staff

A number of senior officers stationed at an American air base in the Middle East have been instructed to leave, multiple diplomats claimed in a report Wednesday, as Iran doubles down on threats to strike American bases in the region if the US intervenes militarily to aid the protest movement in the Islamic Republic.

On Wednesday, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that Iran has warned countries across the Middle East that host American military forces that bases in their territory which are used by the US could be struck if President Donald Trump orders attacks on regime forces in Iran.

“Tehran has told regional countries, from Saudi Arabia and UAE to Turkey, that US bases in those countries will be attacked if the US targets Iran… asking these countries to prevent Washington from attacking Iran,” the official said.

In a separate report by Reuters, three diplomats were cited saying that a number of officers at the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar – the largest American military facility in the Middle East, which also serves as the forward headquarters for US Central Command’s air operations – have been ordered to depart.

The Al Udeid Air Base, which houses some 10,000 American service members, was targeted by Iranian ballistic missiles last June following American airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

There were no injuries or damage in the missile attack.

A day earlier, Trump announced that he had canceled planned meetings between US and Iranian officials over the deadly crackdown against anti-regime protests.

On Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that communications between himself and White House special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff have been suspended, after the two reportedly corresponded over the weekend.

Israeli media outlets reported Wednesday that the Wing of Zion, the official air transport for the prime minister and president of Israel, had left Israeli airspace, departing Nevatim Air Force Base in southern Israel, and flying northwest over the Mediterranean toward Greece.

The Wing of Zion later touched down in Crete.

Israeli officials downplayed the plane’s departure, claiming it was part of a routine training exercise.

The Wing of Zion also departed Israel shortly before the beginning of the 12-day war with Iran in June.