US orders non-essential diplomats to leave Lebanon as regional tensions soar

The United States has ordered non-essential diplomats and their family members to leave Lebanon, a State Department official said on Monday, as tensions over Iran rise with the threat of a potentially imminent military strike.

The official said a continuous assessment of the regional security environment determined it was "prudent" to draw down the US Embassy’s footprint so that only essential personnel remained at their posts.

The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the move had not yet been formally announced, said that it is a temporary measure and that the embassy remained operational on Monday.

Iran held annual military drills with Russia last week as a second American aircraft carrier drew closer to the Middle East, with both the United States and Iran signaling they are prepared for war if talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme fizzle out.

President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he believes 10 to 15 days is "enough time" for Iran to reach a deal. But the talks have been deadlocked for years, and Iran has refused to head to US demands asking Tehran to scale back its missile programme. 

Indirect talks held in recent weeks made little visible progress, and one or both sides could be buying time for final war preparations.

A second department official, also speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss plans that had not been formally announced, said Secretary of State Marco Rubio may delay his intended visits to Israel this weekend.