Name: US Orders Embassy Staff to Leave Beirut Amid Safety Concerns
Uploaded: 2026-02-23T21:55:14.000Z
Description: President Donald Trump said Thursday that "really bad things will happen" if no agreement is reached over Tehran’s nuclear program.

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The U.S. State Department (DOS) has ordered the departure of non-emergency government personnel and eligible family members from the U.S. Embassy in Beirut following a recent security review, officials said Monday.

"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 department said in a statement.

Despite staff reductions, the embassy remains open and operational. A DOS official stated, "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."

An official at Beirut airport said 32 embassy staff and family members departed on Monday. The DOS official’s statement said the evacuation order is temporary, prioritizing the safety of embassy personnel while ensuring continued operations.

This move comes as the U.S. military builds up in the Middle East, deploying more air and naval forces to the region amid escalating tensions with Iran.

Meanwhile, U.S. and Iranian officials are set to resume nuclear negotiations on Thursday in Geneva, <a href="https://www.ntd.com/us-iran-nuclear-talks-to-resume-thursday_1127796.html">according</a> to Oman’s foreign minister, who described the talks as progressing "with a positive push" toward reaching a final agreement.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told CBS there is still a “good chance” for a diplomatic solution, emphasizing that the nuclear issue remains the only topic on the table.

These negotiations come as Iran continues to experience unrest at home, including memorial protests for those killed during anti-government demonstrations in Iran earlier this year.

President Donald Trump said Thursday that "really bad things will happen" if no agreement is reached over Tehran’s nuclear program. Iran has warned it would strike U.S. bases in the region if attacked.

In a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Tehran stated it would not initiate hostilities but warned that "in the event that it is subjected to military aggression, Iran will respond decisively and proportionately" as an act of self-defense.

"All bases, facilities, and assets of the hostile force in the region would constitute legitimate targets," the letter said. "The United States would bear full and direct responsibility for any unpredictable and uncontrolled consequences."

The U.S. has long been at <a href="https://lb.usembassy.gov/history-of-the-u-s-and-lebanon/">risk in Lebanon</a>. The Iran-backed group Hezbollah was attributed for the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, which killed 241 American service members, as well as the bombing of the U.S. Embassy that same year, leaving 49 embassy staff dead and 34 injured.

Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, sits along the eastern Mediterranean coast, bordered by Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south. The city is to the west of Iran.

A level four travel advisory from the Department of State <a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Lebanon.html">warns</a> Americans not travel to Lebanon due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, unexploded landmines, and the risk of armed conflict. The advisory was last issued in July 20225 and has remained in effect since then.

<em>Reuters contributed to this report. </em>

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