U.S. Embassy Evacuating Non-Essential Staff over Security Threats

W300

The U.S. embassy in Beirut said Friday that its non-essential staff and family members are being evacuated from Lebanon because of "threats to U.S. mission facilities and personnel."

"On September 6 2013, the Department of State drew down non-emergency personnel and family members from Embassy Beirut due to threats to U.S. mission facilities and personnel," a statement on the embassy website said.

The Department of State urged U.S. citizens to avoid all travel to Lebanon “because of current safety and security concerns,” noting that “U.S. citizens living and working in Lebanon should understand that they accept risks in remaining and should carefully consider those risks.”

There were no details on any specific threats to the embassy or information on how many people were affected by the decision.

But deputy State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf later said: "The Department of State has ordered a drawdown of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and family members in Beirut, Lebanon and approved the drawdown of non-emergency personnel and family members who wish to leave Adana, Turkey."

The decision had been made due to "current tensions in the region, as well as potential threats to U.S. government facilities and personnel," Harf said in a statement.

But she stressed the State Department was acting out of "an abundance of caution to protect our employees and their families, and local employees and visitors to our facilities."

Separately, the State Department said the consulate general in Adana, a major commercial and agricultural hub, "has been authorized to draw down its non-emergency staff and family members because of threats against U.S. government facilities and personnel."

Lebanese authorities said, meanwhile, they had boosted security measures at foreign diplomatic missions ahead of any international military action against Syria.

Harf warned any U.S. citizens who chose to remain in Lebanon or southern Turkey that they "should limit nonessential travel within the country, be aware of their surroundings whether in their residences or moving about, make their own contingency emergency plans."

The U.S. warning would be reviewed, Harf said. "We will continue to assess the situation and to adjust our security posture accordingly."

The move comes as U.S. President Barack Obama presses Congress to authorize military strikes against neighboring Syria in response to an alleged August 21 chemical weapons attack Washington has blamed on the regime.

The potential strikes have raised the prospect of regional repercussions, including by pro-Damascus groups in Lebanon.

The U.S. State Department has already warned U.S. citizens to avoid all travel to Lebanon and recommended those in the country make plans to leave.

The conflict in Syria has increasingly spilled over into Lebanon in the shape of deadly clashes and bombings.

Washington's Beirut embassy was the scene of a deadly suicide bombing in 1983 that killed 63 people mostly embassy staff, CIA agents, soldiers and Marines, in what was then the worst attack ever on a U.S. mission.

Last month, Britain updated its travel warning for Lebanon, urging citizens to avoid all but essential travel because of a "heightened risk of anti-Western sentiment" linked to potential strikes against Syria.

The British Foreign Office said Friday it had not ordered the withdrawal of non-essential staff from the embassy in Beirut.

But it said that all dependents of British diplomatic staff had left after the travel warning was updated on August 30.

Comments 29
Default-user-icon ezzo (Guest) over 10 years

OMG, urgent!!!!! They didn't see this coming by meddling in the region for years!!!!

What a joke these neocons are

Missing hb9z over 10 years

oh yes the iranian embassy is essential for the well being of all the shia'a that she employs - meaning all dahiye...how can such masses agree to live and get money from a foreign country instead of looking to have a job, travel to africa and open business....this is what iran has made of the a majority of the shia'a ...hired mercenaries ....a shame ....
and if the US is evacuating its because they were told that it may get HOT next month......

Thumb Maxx over 10 years

Sure. Tell that to Hashem Salman. He was a Shiite. He was right in front of the Iranian embassy. And he was brutally murdered by Hizb. It's not about religion, it's about power. Authority without responsibility: that's Hizb's motto.

Thumb geha over 10 years

we all know who killed Hariri: hizbushaitan.

Missing hb9z over 10 years

if anyone has doubts who killed all the patriotic politicians that cared for the people , he /she needs to look himself in the mirror because he would morally be one of them......

Missing hb9z over 10 years

my wise guy, all the embassies all over the world represent their governments and all have agents ...some are for trade and education promotion and some are for information collecting "spying". what do you think? if an embassy has no spies . its because she cannot afford it, or she is not interested .......

Default-user-icon Uncle Sam (Guest) over 10 years

You and ali baba nasrallah and your whole tribe are detrimental to lebanon and our lives... scumbag...

Default-user-icon Uncle Sam (Guest) over 10 years

And your low life tribe is nothing but a tribe of slaves to the stinking scum of persia...

Thumb bigsami over 10 years

lolololol...nice one Ice. BSThrower is worthless!

Thumb bigsami over 10 years

Yallah US and allies....send them rockets. Nothing to worry about the Russians. They weapons and outdated technology can't stand a chance. Just look at HA and what they have...I believe the weapons are knock-off Fischer-Price toys. lololol! God bless the USA!

Thumb Bandoul over 10 years

@bigsami, my country, the USA, has no real allies in a strike over Syria nor does it have the support of the American people. World affairs, for better or worth, are governed by the United Nations. Humanitarian efforts to thwart the inhumane acts of gassing civilians must stem from a binding UN resolution, where the world body decides, finances and implements the agreed upon action. The USA has no legal standing to strike Syria without a UN resolution. If the USA wants to declare war against Syria which does not require a UN resolution then it must explain and justify the reason why to the American people and then it must seek approval from congress prior to doing so, otherwise the war would be 100% illegal.

Thumb Bandoul over 10 years

Typo: worth = worse

Thumb Bandoul over 10 years

Typo, does NOT fight evil

Thumb freedomarch over 10 years

Agree 100% Syria with all the problems is not as important as Iran.

Thumb freedomarch over 10 years

I am sure that Syria is not as important for the US as Iran. The Politics here in the US is very complicated and wish to hit Iran instead of Syria if they can.

Thumb Bandoul over 10 years

@Mr. Obama, lest you forgot, the USA does fight evil actors with evil actions and we certainly do not replace one evil with another to make a statement to the world that we are strong and mighty. There is absolutely no way the USA or the American people can be linked or identified as having helped unleash the likes of Al-Nusra on humanity. Act morally sir, no-one cares about credibility of the USA in the eyes of the world. Some hate us and will attack regardless, some worship us and will defend us regardless, no need to draw red lines and start World War Three to show everyone whose the boss.

Thumb Bandoul over 10 years

Sorry, Typo: the USA does NOT fight evil actors with evil actions

Thumb Bandoul over 10 years

@ice-man, I am simply emphasizing that I am giving my opinion as an American and not as a Lebanese. I hope you didn't take offense, I am not trying to show off that I am American, I am explaining that my argument is an American point of view.

Missing hb9z over 10 years

ambassador ghadanfar ( what a name) is an agent of khaminei and as such does like he is told...I have not seen the iranian embassy sponsor any project to help the syrian refugees and ask the lebanese government if he needs anything, give the army any advanced technology like they gave hizbaalah.....

Missing VINCENT over 10 years

Well said. Who can argue against that?

Missing VINCENT over 10 years

Yes, Iran better (you have to say this in Persian accent).

Thumb Maxx over 10 years

We ALL know who killed Hariri, thank you very much. The same as who killed all the other M14 politicians and thus paved the way for an M8 takeover of our country. If you want to tell me that it was the "Zionists" or the Americans who did so, then it can only be because those "Zionists" are allied with your Hizb. Otherwise...

Thumb Maxx over 10 years

LOL. Nice irony, like always. I'm beginning to like you.

Missing VINCENT over 10 years

And the Iranian embassy is in Lebanon to introduce us to their cuisine? For the thousands or years the Persians have been on Earth, what kind of contribution have they blessed the civilization of Earth with?

Missing VINCENT over 10 years

In the jungle, what is the first thing young, in prime, male lions do when they attack and take over a pride? They kill the dominant male lion and all of his male offspring cubs.

Missing VINCENT over 10 years

They sure have done a half derrier job.

Missing cedars over 10 years

Typical farm boy.

Thumb freedomarch over 10 years

God Bless The US for their Positive role around the world. As a not so positive news for you, The US Army will wait some time, and hit Iran Instead of Syria, The Free Syrian Army will take of the Assad clan. As for Ghadanfar .. He is not that important ..so no need to waste time.

Thumb freedomarch over 10 years

I can see the Angels going around and around that Place... ! I wonder if wee should build a Mazar on the entrance of that Embassy!! We can get the blessings everyday and ask for God well or any one there for forgiveness and blessings before anything we do. Iranian Embassy .Don't.. Keep up the (not So) good work...