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The report was released amid warnings from the United States that it may intervene in ongoing protests in Iran.
Published January 14, 2026
Some staff have been advised to leave the US military’s al-Udeid air base in Qatar by Wednesday evening, Reuters reported, citing three unnamed diplomats.
The report was released amid warnings from the United States that it may intervene in ongoing protests in Iran.
“This is a change in attitude, not an ordered evacuation,” one diplomat said, adding that he was not aware of any specific reason for the change in attitude.
“The measures are being taken in response to current tensions in the region,” Qatar said in a statement to the International Media Authority.
“In connection with the dissemination of reports regarding the departure of certain personnel from Al Udeid Air Base, the State of Qatar International Media Organization (IMO) stated that such measures are being taken in response to current regional tensions,” the statement said.
“IMO reaffirms that the State of Qatar continues to implement all necessary measures to protect the safety and security of its people and residents as a top priority, including measures related to the protection of critical infrastructure and military facilities.”
The US Embassy in Doha could not be reached for comment.
Al Udeid is the largest US military base in the Middle East, with approximately 10,000 soldiers stationed there.
Last year, some personnel and families were removed from US military bases in the Middle East more than a week before the US began airstrikes on Iran. After the U.S. attack in June, Iran launched missile attacks on bases in Qatar.
Iran ‘warns’ regional countries
Reuters quoted a senior Iranian government official as saying that Tehran had warned regional countries that it would attack U.S. military bases in the event of an attack by Washington.
“The Iranian government has notified regional countries from Saudi Arabia and the UAE to Turkiye that if the US targets Iran, US military bases in these countries will be attacked… and is urging them to prevent Washington from attacking Iran,” said an anonymous Iranian official.
The comments followed US President Donald Trump’s threat to intervene militarily in Iran over bloodshed during nationwide protests. President Trump called on the Iranians to take over state institutions and promised that “help is on the way.”
The 24-hectare (59-acre) al-Udeid base in the desert outside the capital Doha is the forward headquarters of U.S. Central Command, which directs U.S. military operations across a vast territory stretching from Egypt in the west to Kazakhstan in the east.
In January, U.S. Central Command announced the opening of a new coordination office (MEAD-CDOC) in Al-Udeid, working with regional partners to strengthen integrated air and missile defense. The new force will improve the way regional forces coordinate and share air and missile responsibilities across the Middle East.
