Which US embassies are getting their diplomats back?

According to the reported document: Israel, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Oman, Iraq and Kuwait, with Lebanon first in line.

Will the embassies return to full staffing?

Not all. Israel, Jordan and Oman would return fully; the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Lebanon would start at 85 percent, and Iraq, Kuwait and Bahrain at 75 percent.

Why were the embassies evacuated?

Washington began authorizing departures in February amid rising tensions with Iran, and evacuations expanded before and during the US-Israel war with Iran.

US to Return Diplomats to Middle East Embassies After Iran War

US Prepares to Send Diplomats Back to Middle East Embassies Evacuated During the Iran War

The State Department is preparing to return diplomats to US embassies across the Middle East that were evacuated before and during the war with Iran, according to an internal department document reported by the New York Times on Tuesday. The first returns could begin as early as this week.

The US flag flies outside a government building. The State Department is preparing to return diplomats to eight Middle East embassies evacuated during the war with Iran. (Waldemar Brandt via Unsplash)

A Phased Return

Diplomats assigned to the US Embassy in Lebanon would go back first, though staffing there would remain below full levels, according to the document. Embassies in Israel, Jordan and Oman would eventually return to full staffing.

Other posts would come back capped: missions in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Lebanon at 85 percent of normal staffing, and those in Iraq, Kuwait and Bahrain at 75 percent, the report said. Embassies slated for higher staffing also include Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Oman, Iraq and Kuwait.

From Evacuation to Rebuild

The drawdown began in February, when Washington authorized voluntary departures of non-emergency personnel and family members from Israel as tensions with Iran escalated. Evacuations widened as the war broke out, and US missions in the region moved to emergency footing — the embassy in Baghdad was targeted by drone and rocket attacks in March.

The State Department, in a statement quoted by the Times, said it "continuously reviews the security posture at our diplomatic missions around the world" and is "adjusting our staffing posture at certain posts in the Middle East" based on its latest assessment.

What Comes Next

The return signals Washington's assessment that the region has stabilized enough for normal diplomatic operations, months after the war ended. The staggered caps tell the other half of the story: full staffing in Baghdad, Kuwait City and Manama, the posts closest to Iran's reach, is not yet on the table.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which US embassies are getting their diplomats back?: According to the reported document: Israel, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Oman, Iraq and Kuwait, with Lebanon first in line.
Will the embassies return to full staffing?: Not all. Israel, Jordan and Oman would return fully; the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Lebanon would start at 85 percent, and Iraq, Kuwait and Bahrain at 75 percent.
Why were the embassies evacuated?: Washington began authorizing departures in February amid rising tensions with Iran, and evacuations expanded before and during the US-Israel war with Iran.

A. Brooks

Writer

A. Brooks is a journalist and editor with more than seven years of experience covering world news, science, technology, and entertainment. With a background in communications and media studies, Brooks specializes in translating complex topics into clear, engaging stories for a broad audience. Their work ranges from breaking news and explainers to in-depth features, with a focus on accuracy, context, and accessible storytelling.

Florida Democrats just picked David over Goliath. State Rep. Angie Nixon, a democratic socialist who raised just shy of $1 million, defeated Alex Vindman, the impeachment-famous former national security official who raised about $16 million, in Tuesday's Democratic Senate primary. The shock upset sets up a long-shot November challenge to Republican Sen. Ashley Moody, and reopens the Democratic Party's rawest internal fight: whether bold populism or careful moderation wins in the South.

Politics5d ago

Trump Threatens "Tremendous Economic Consequences" for Any Country Doing Business With Iran

The bombs have stopped. The economic siege is just beginning. President Donald Trump announced what he called "the most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country," threatening severe consequences for any nation that helps or trades with Iran. The pivot comes as the war nears its six-month mark, with military strikes having failed to bring Tehran back to the table, and it risks a direct collision with China just weeks before Xi Jinping visits the US.

PoliticsAugust 18, 2026

Florida Picks a DeSantis Successor Today: Donalds Favored in a Primary Full of Feuds, Carpetbaggers and Two Dan Sullivans

Florida Republicans choose their nominee to replace term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday, and while the likely winner is hardly a mystery, the road there has turned into a bitter intra-party feud. Trump-endorsed Rep. Byron Donalds is the favorite, DeSantis has pointedly stayed neutral, and the day's ballot stretches far beyond the governor's mansion: contentious House primaries under a brand-new congressional map, a Senate showdown between an impeachment witness and a democratic socialist, plus key races in Alaska, Wyoming and California.