US starts returning staff to some Middle East missions after Iran war evacuations

Move suggests the US sees a lower risk of the Iran conflict escalating, though some embassies will initially ⁠operate below full capacity

US President Donald Trump’s administration is starting to send staff back to some diplomatic missions in the Middle East that were evacuated ‌or downsized amid tensions with Iran, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The posts in Lebanon, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Baghdad, Iraq, are among those where staff will return, the sources said. Family members will also be allowed to return to the US post in Riyadh, they added.

The move suggests Washington sees a lower risk of the conflict with Iran escalating in the near term, though some embassies will initially ⁠operate below full capacity.

Some embassies will initially operate at no more than 85 per cent of authorised staff levels, the ‌sources said.

The return of some staff is expected to start as early as this week, one of the sources said.

The United States pulled out staff from embassies across ‌the Middle East after joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran began on February 28.