US to send diplomats back to Middle East embassies evacuated during war — report

The Embassy is seen across the Tigris River in Baghdad, Iraq, March 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
The Embassy is seen across the Tigris River in Baghdad, Iraq, March 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

The US is poised to send diplomatic staff back to embassies in the Middle East that were cleared out amid the war with Iran, The New York Times reports.

The newspaper notes that the move suggests Washington does not expect the military conflict to reignite in the near future.

It cites an internal State Department document that says diplomats’ redeployment could start as soon as this week.

The report names several countries expected to get staff reinstated, including Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait and Oman.

The State Department tells the paper it “continuously reviews the security posture at our diplomatic missions around the world. Based on our latest assessment, we are adjusting our staffing posture at certain posts in the Middle East to ensure we can continue advancing US foreign policy objectives while protecting the safety and security of our personnel.”

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