U.S. Evacuates Mideast Outposts After Suspected Iranian Plot to Target Americans
The intelligence comes as the Trump administration prepares to restart military operations against Iran
- U.S. intelligence suggests Iranian preparations to attack Americans in the Middle East have reached advanced stages, prompting personnel evacuations.
- The State Department updated travel advisories for 13 Middle Eastern countries over concerns about Iran and the Houthis.
- The intelligence follows preparations by the Trump administration to resume military strikes on Iran after the midterm elections.
WASHINGTON—U.S. intelligence suggests Iranian preparations to attack Americans throughout the Middle East have reached “advanced stages,” prompting a sudden exodus of personnel from embassies and military bases throughout the region, officials said.
Jay Clayton, the director of national intelligence, summarized that finding in a brief memo Friday to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“Iran has substantially increased efforts to target U.S. personnel. The lethal plotting efforts by the Iranians against U.S. citizens have reached advanced stages in both the Middle East and certain other countries,” he wrote.
The U.S. in recent days ordered the departure of diplomats and staff from the embassy in Saudi Arabia and other countries, initially citing threats from the Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen. The U.S. also has evacuated personnel from military bases across the region in preparation for renewed fighting, according to U.S. officials familiar with the planning.
A U.S. official said Friday that suspected Iranian terror plots targeting U.S. personnel informed the decision to order embassy staff from their posts. This month, the U.S. evacuated bomber aircraft from a base in the U.K. because of intelligence about an Iranian plot to attack aircraft and personnel, the Journal has reported.
The State Department on Friday updated its travel advisories for 13 Middle Eastern countries over concerns about Iran and the Houthis.
Tehran has long promised retaliation if the U.S. resumes attacks. “Last time you wanted to ‘finish the job’, Iran emerged even stronger. Want to try your luck again? Be our guest. But be careful; we have unfinished jobs too,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on social media in recent days.
U.S. officials confirmed the memo and the intelligence, which was reported earlier by Axios. Before the war began in February, Trump administration officials warned about the potential for Iran to strike American targets first, adding that it necessitated the U.S. to begin pre-emptive attacks on Iran alongside Israel.
The intelligence follows preparations by the Trump administration to resume strikes on Iran following the midterm elections, U.S. officials said. “We may do another little ‘Epic Fury,’” President Trump told a crowd on Friday at a rally in Florida, using the name for the U.S. military campaign against Iran.
Trump has threatened a significant escalation before only to pull back in favor of negotiations, tightening sanctions and continuing the blockade of Iranian trade in the Strait of Hormuz.
The president has been briefed on a series of options prepared by the Pentagon, officials said. The plans range from striking nuclear facilities and infrastructure, such as bridges, to conducting assaults on islands controlled by Iran, according to some of the officials.
Trump is leaning toward a return to major combat operations, the officials said, though no final decisions have been made. Critics say another flurry of missile attacks won’t compel Tehran to surrender its nuclear program but would raise global energy prices.
White House officials have previously said there would be no renewed operations against Iran before the Nov. 3 elections.
Two aircraft carrier strike groups are currently in the Middle East, with a third on the way from the Pacific. It is unclear how long all three will stay in the Middle East.
The Wall Street Journal recently observed a large shipment of standoff land attack missiles and bunker buster bombs arrive on the aircraft carrier USS George Washington in the Arabian Sea, a sign that the ship’s air wing is preparing for a much larger bombing campaign.
“We are always prepared,” said Capt. Nicholas DeLeo, commanding officer of USS George Washington. “We’re always paying attention, focused on our surroundings and ready to react reflexively or proactively.”
The U.S. is also bringing in another amphibious assault ship loaded with Marines, expanding Trump’s options to seize territory should he choose to do so.
When the additional carrier strike group and Marine expeditionary unit arrive in theater, the U.S. will have more than two dozen Navy ships operating in the Middle East, according to a Navy official.
The Pentagon said the military’s job is to develop and present options to the president.