US reduces some staff at Qatar air base amid threats to attack Iran

The United States is withdrawing a small number of personnel as a “precautionary measure” from a major US air base in Qatar, a US official told News themezone. The move comes amid President Trump’s threats to attack Iran for killing anti-government protesters in brutal repression.

Al Udeid Air Base in Doha, Qatar, is the forward operations headquarters of US Central Command, which oversees US forces throughout the Middle East. The reduction comes as Iran has already threatened to retaliate against any US military action by attacking US troops.

President Trump said in a interview with “News Evening News” anchor Tony Doukoupil, who will take “very strong measures” if the regime begins hanging protesters in response to mass demonstrations.

News themezone reported earlier this week that the president has received briefings on a wide range of military and covert tools target Iran beyond conventional airstrikes. Such measures could include cyber and psychological operations that could occur simultaneously with traditional military force.

The preemptive drawdown at Al Udeid comes as the president weighs options and sees what Iran’s response might be.

Reuters first reported that the US military was reducing its presence at the base.

Similarly, the military withdrew personnel from Al Udeid last summer, around the time of the US bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities. After that bombing, called Operation Midnight Hammer, Iran retaliated with targeting Al Udeid with about a dozen ballistic missiles. Almost all of the missiles were intercepted and no one was injured in the attack, partly due to troop reductions.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, in a news conference after the attack last June, said the U.S. military had reduced to “a minimum force posture” throughout the region, including Al Udeid. Most of the personnel had moved out of the base, leaving only a handful of soldiers.

Overall, Al Udeid is the largest US base in the Middle East, with between 8,000 and 10,000 US troops.