At a Glance
- Hundreds of U.S. troops are leaving al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar
- Move takes personnel out of range if Iran retaliates after any U.S. strike
- Iran warns U.S. and Israeli bases could be hit; first protester execution expected Wednesday
- Why it matters: American forces are repositioning as President Trump weighs military action over Iran’s lethal crackdown on demonstrators
Hundreds of American service members have begun pulling out of al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, part of a coordinated effort to shield them from possible Iranian retaliation ahead of potential U.S. strikes on Iran, according to two sources briefed on the operation.
The personnel are being shifted to other regional bases and hotels to keep them clear of missile range should Tehran answer an American operation with attacks on U.S. targets, the sources told News Of Philadelphia.
Troop Movements Signal Escalation Risk
The evacuation marks the second time in eight months that forces have left the sprawling Qatari installation because of looming action against Iran. During the Pentagon’s June mission-code-named “Midnight Hammer”-troops were yanked out at the last minute with minimal coordination, one source said. This time the drawdown appears better planned and underway well before any order to strike is given.
President Donald Trump is reviewing a menu of military and diplomatic responses after Tehran’s security forces killed hundreds of people to crush nationwide protests that erupted last month over surging prices. Iranian lawmakers on Sunday threatened to hit American and Israeli bases if the U.S. attacks.
“U.S. military and maritime centers will be our legitimate targets,” Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said on state television.
Execution Deadline Looms
Iranian judicial officials have scheduled the first protest-related execution for Wednesday, intensifying pressure on Washington to act. The condemned man, 26-year-old Erfan Soltani, lost contact with his family on January 8 and was told four days ago he had been sentenced to death, according to Amnesty International.
“This time, the Islamic Republic regime didn’t even bother with its usual 10-minute sham trial; Erfan was sentenced to execution without any legal process or defense lawyer,” the State Department said in a social-media post.
Trump told CBS News that “if they do such a thing” and execute Soltani, “we will take very strong action.” He separately urged Iranians to “keep protesting” and promised that “help is on the way,” though he indicated talks with Tehran are frozen while violence continues.
Rising Death Toll
With the internet cut for more than 132 hours, details have trickled out only through sporadic international calls. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) estimates at least:
- 2,500 people killed since unrest began, including nearly 150 security personnel
- 18,000 arrests nationwide
HRANA said its tally jumped Tuesday after Iranians regained limited phone access and began reporting fresh casualties. Geolocated videos obtained by News Of Philadelphia show scores of bodies outside a makeshift morgue near Tehran, and witnesses describe a heavy security presence despite shops reopening.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told RTL radio the crackdown may be “the most violent repression in Iran’s contemporary history.”
Iran Blames ‘Rioters’
Tehran acknowledges many deaths but blames “terrorists” and “rioters.” The semi-official Fars news agency claims most victims were “ordinary citizens and passers-by who had no connection whatsoever to the riots.” A mass funeral under tight security was held Wednesday for security personnel and civilians.
Iran’s U.N. mission accused Washington of engineering “unrest and chaos, serving as the modus operandi to manufacture a pretext for military intervention.”
Economic Pressure Added
Alongside possible strikes, the White House has increased economic pressure, imposing a 25 percent tariff on companies doing business with Iran. Israeli and Arab officials have privately urged the administration to hold off on military action, fearing regional spillover.
The Pentagon has not disclosed how many of al-Udeid’s thousands of personnel are being relocated, nor which bases will house them. Reuters first reported the evacuation.
Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei demanded rapid punishment of protesters to restore order.
“If we want to do a job, we should do it now… If we want to do something, we have to do that fast,” he said in a video carried on state TV.
Key Takeaways
- U.S. troops are leaving Qatar ahead of possible strikes on Iran over protester executions
- Iran vows to retaliate against American bases, raising the stakes for any operation
- Rights groups say at least 2,500 people have been killed and 18,000 detained in the crackdown
