2 hours ago
Last Updated:February 23, 2026, 20:41 IST
The US Embassy in Beirut evacuated dozens of non-essential personnel amid anticipated regional developments and possible Hezbollah action against Israel.
The evacuation order has been issued “as a precautionary measure amid anticipated regional developments".
The US Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, on Monday evacuated dozens of non-essential personnel via Beirut–Rafic Hariri Airport.
The Times of Israel quoted Lebanese broadcaster LBCI stating that the embassy has evacuated dozens of staffers via the city’s Rafik Hariri Airport “as a precautionary measure amid anticipated regional developments".
“The Department of State has ordered the departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and eligible family members from US 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 US citizens," the statement continued.
Reuters quoted a source at the U.S. embassy saying that 50 people had been evacuated, while an official at Beirut airport said 32 embassy staff, along with family members, had flown out of Beirut airport on Monday.
This comes amid reports that Hezbollah will likely attack Israel in case of a war sparked by a US strike on Iran.
Fox News quoted reports stating that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has tightened control over Hezbollah in Lebanon amid looming prospects of potential US strikes.
Previously, US President Donald Trump had ordered a large buildup of forces in the Middle East and made threats against the Iranian regime.
He had also given Iran a deadline of 10 to 15 days to respond to a deal or “really bad things will happen".
On Thursday, US and Iran will reportedly hold another round of talks with focus on the latter’s nuclear programme, including uranium enrichment levels and sanctions relief.
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Location :
Beirut, Lebanon
First Published:
February 23, 2026, 19:57 IST
News world US Embassy Evacuates Staff From Beirut As Tensions With Iran Intensify
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