WASHINGTON — The United States deployed more military assets to Israel’s main airport and ordered nonessential diplomats and their family members to leave Lebanon on Monday, signaling a potential escalation with Iran just days before the two sides are set to resume nuclear talks.US aerial refueling tankers and C-17 Globemaster heavy transport aircraft have landed at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport over the past 24 hours as part of a US military buildup in the region, Israel’s public broadcaster Kan reported on Monday.Photos showed the aircraft stationed at the airport outside Tel Aviv, Israel’s main international gateway.The deployment is part of broader US preparations for a potential strike against Iran, the broadcaster said.US officials have said that all options remain on the table should diplomacy fail to resolve disputes over Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, while Iran has warned it would retaliate against US and Israeli targets if attacked.The State Department said in an updated travel alert for US citizens in Lebanon that it “ordered the departure of non-emergency US government personnel and family members of government personnel due to the security situation in Beirut.” The Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (LBCI) described the move as a preventive measure in anticipation of potential regional escalation.The alert, which was formally released several hours after word began to circulate about the move, said US personnel remaining in Lebanon would have their in-country travel restricted.A State Department official said earlier that a continuous assessment of the regional security environment determined it was “prudent” to draw down the US Embassy Beirut’s footprint so that only essential personnel remain at their posts.The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity before the move was formally announced, said that it is a temporary measure and that the embassy will remain operational.It was unclear if other American embassies in the Middle East would implement similar orders.Changes in the staffing status of the embassy in Beirut have often been seen as a bellwether for potential US or Israeli military action in the region.A similar ordered departure was imposed for Beirut and other embassies in the region, including in Iraq, shortly before President Donald Trump ordered military strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities last June.The recent developments follow two rounds of indirect nuclear talks between the United States and Iran this month, with the first in Muscat on Feb. 6 and the second in Geneva on Feb. 17. Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi said on Sunday that the next round of US-Iran talks will take place on Thursday in Geneva. — AgenciesWASHINGTON — The United States deployed more military assets to Israel’s main airport and ordered nonessential diplomats and their family members to leave Lebanon on Monday, signaling a potential escalation with Iran just days before the two sides are set to resume nuclear talks.US aerial refueling tankers and C-17 Globemaster heavy transport aircraft have landed at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport over the past 24 hours as part of a US military buildup in the region, Israel’s public broadcaster Kan reported on Monday.Photos showed the aircraft stationed at the airport outside Tel Aviv, Israel’s main international gateway.The deployment is part of broader US preparations for a potential strike against Iran, the broadcaster said.US officials have said that all options remain on the table should diplomacy fail to resolve disputes over Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, while Iran has warned it would retaliate against US and Israeli targets if attacked.The State Department said in an updated travel alert for US citizens in Lebanon that it “ordered the departure of non-emergency US government personnel and family members of government personnel due to the security situation in Beirut.” The Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (LBCI) described the move as a preventive measure in anticipation of potential regional escalation.The alert, which was formally released several hours after word began to circulate about the move, said US personnel remaining in Lebanon would have their in-country travel restricted.A State Department official said earlier that a continuous assessment of the regional security environment determined it was “prudent” to draw down the US Embassy Beirut’s footprint so that only essential personnel remain at their posts.The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity before the move was formally announced, said that it is a temporary measure and that the embassy will remain operational.It was unclear if other American embassies in the Middle East would implement similar orders.Changes in the staffing status of the embassy in Beirut have often been seen as a bellwether for potential US or Israeli military action in the region.A similar ordered departure was imposed for Beirut and other embassies in the region, including in Iraq, shortly before President Donald Trump ordered military strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities last June.The recent developments follow two rounds of indirect nuclear talks between the United States and Iran this month, with the first in Muscat on Feb. 6 and the second in Geneva on Feb. 17. Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi said on Sunday that the next round of US-Iran talks will take place on Thursday in Geneva. — Agencies
US deploys more assets in Israel, orders diplomats to leave Lebanon amid Iran tensions
