State Department orders non-emergency personnel to evacuate US embassy in Beirut

The State Department on Monday ordered non-emergency personnel to evacuate the U.S. embassy in Beirut, Lebanon.The department did not provide details for the reason behind the evacuation, Fox News reported. The order comes as President Trump has ordered a large buildup of U.S. military forces in the Middle East and made threats against the Iranian regime amid nuclear talks.
“The Department of State has ordered the departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and eligible family members from U.S. Embassy Beirut,” the State Department said.
“We continuously assess the security environment, and based on our latest review, we determined it prudent to reduce our footprint to essential personnel. The Embassy remains operational with core staff in place. This is a temporary measure intended to ensure the safety of our personnel while maintaining our ability to operate and assist U.S. citizens.”
Amid the possibility of U.S. strikes on Iran, the country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has tightened control over Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Trump on Thursday gave Iran a deadline of 15 days to respond to a deal.
A new round of nuclear talks with Iran is now scheduled for this Thursday in Geneva, Switzerland, and expected to focus on the country’s uranium enrichment levels and sanctions relief.

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