Khaberni - A senior official in the US State Department said on Monday that the department is withdrawing non-essential personnel and their families from the US Embassy in Beirut, amid growing concerns about the risk of a military conflict with Iran.
The official, who asked to remain anonymous, said, "We are continuously assessing the security situation and based on our latest assessment, we felt it wise to reduce our presence to only essential personnel."
He added, "The embassy continues to operate at full capacity with the presence of essential staff. The measure is temporary and aims to ensure the safety of our staff while maintaining our ability to operate and assist American citizens."
A source at the US Embassy reported the evacuation of 50 people, while an official at Beirut airport said that 32 embassy staff along with their family members left the airport on Monday.
The United States has strengthened its military presence in the Middle East, where President Donald Trump warned on Thursday that "very bad things will happen" if no agreement is reached to resolve the long-standing conflict over Iran's nuclear program.
