US evacuates nonessential personnel from Beirut embassy over Iran tension

Published February 23, 2026 10:55am ET



The U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, ordered the evacuation of nonessential personnel due to the tension between the United States and Iran, a senior State Department official confirmed to the Washington Examiner.

The official said the latest review “determined” it would be “prudent to reduce” its footprint in Lebanon, though “the Embassy remains operational with core staff in place.”

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