American diplomats return to the Middle East

The US is restaffing diplomatic posts across the Middle East after diplomats were evacuated because of the Iran war, sources told Semafor. The US is restaffing diplomatic posts across the Middle East after diplomats were evacuated because of the Iran war, sources told Semafor, a move that cements the notion that Washington has no imminent plans to return to full-blown military conflict. “Based on our latest assessment, we are adjusting our staffing posture at certain posts in the Middle East to ensure we can continue advancing US foreign policy objectives while protecting the safety and security of our personnel,” a State Department spokesperson said. A Trump administration official noted individual countries in the region were at different phases of the rollout. The guidance allows families of diplomats to return to most posts, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, according to a regional embassy source. Bahrain and Kuwait, which have continued to face sporadic Iranian attacks, will have the lowest staffing of the Gulf embassies, with three-quarters of Foreign Service members returning.