The US State Department has confirmed the order to evacuate non-emergency staff from its embassy in Beirut on Monday, February 23.
The move comes after regional tensions have escalated and US President Donald Trump has stepped up threats against Iran.
The orders apply to non-essential staff and eligible family members, although the embassy will remain operational with core staff.
As reported by Al Jazeera50 people had been evacuated, while a Beirut airport official reported that 32 staff and family members departed on Monday, February 23.
A State Department official said: “We continually assess the security environment and, based on our latest review, determined that it is prudent to reduce our footprint to essential personnel. This is a temporary measure intended to ensure the safety of our personnel while maintaining our ability to operate and assist American citizens.”
The departure order follows Israel’s attacks across Lebanon in recent weeks, which killed at least 12 people on Friday alone.
In violation of the 2024 ceasefire agreement, Israeli forces continue to occupy five outposts inside Lebanese territory.
According to a complaint filed in January by Lebanon with the United States, Israel has committed some 2,000 violations of its sovereignty since October.
