US evacuates staff from Lebanon embassy amid tensions with Iran

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Andrew Roth Global affairs correspondentFebruary 23, 2026 at 08:10 PM

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The United States has evacuated non-essential personnel from its embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, amid rising tensions with Iran. This diplomatic drawdown occurred as the US positioned ships and warplanes in the region, potentially in preparation for strikes against Iran. The US State Department cited a continuous assessment of the security environment as the reason for reducing the embassy's footprint to essential staff. The evacuation coincides with upcoming indirect talks between the US and Iran in Geneva regarding Iran's nuclear program. US officials fear potential Iranian retaliation, possibly targeting US embassies and military bases or utilizing proxy forces like Hezbollah. The embassy remains operational with core staff.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Russia 40% Steve Witkoff 40% Iraq 40% Strait of Hormuz 50% Geneva 50% Hezbollah 50% Beirut 60% Department of State 60% Donald Trump ×270% Lebanon ×480% Iran ×1190% United States ×1390%

Keywords

us-iran tensions 90% embassy evacuation 80% iran nuclear programme 70% diplomatic drawdown 60% iran counterattack 50% warplane positioning 50% nuclear deal 40%