The U.S. State Department is preparing to authorize the departure of all nonessential personnel and family members from Bahrain and Kuwait.

🚨Just in: The U.S. State Department has officially authorized the departure of nonessential personnel and family members from Bahrain and Kuwait pic.twitter.com/3cA4Srk2X0

— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) June 11, 2025

The department is also preparing for the departure of all nonessential personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

The move comes amid the heightened concern of regional unrest.

BREAKING: The State Department is preparing to order the departure of all nonessential personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad due to the potential for regional unrest, two U.S. officials said. https://t.co/21fwD5tqfD

— The Associated Press (@AP) June 11, 2025

From the Associated Press:

The State Department said it has ordered the departure of all nonessential personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad based on its latest review and a commitment “to keeping Americans safe, both at home and abroad.” The embassy already had been on limited staffing, and the order will not affect a large number of personnel.

The department, however, also is authorizing the departure of nonessential personnel and family members from Bahrain and Kuwait. That gives them an option on whether to leave those countries.

ADVERTISEMENT

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also “has authorized the voluntary departure of military dependents from locations” across the region, U.S. Central Command said in a statement. The command “is monitoring the developing tension in the Middle East.”

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly confirmed the moves.

“The State Department regularly reviews American personnel abroad, and this decision was made as a result of a recent review,” Kelly said.

The U.S. Embassy Compound in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad is preparing for an ordered evacuation due to heightened tensions in the region, according to reports from U.S. and Iraqi officials to Reuters. pic.twitter.com/4uvV93UBJw

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 11, 2025

The personnel moves have raised speculation the increased tension is related to Iran.

War Brewing? US Prepares Departure Of All Nonessential Staff From Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain Embassies https://t.co/MEteljhdAb

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) June 11, 2025

Zero Hedge reports:

Again, the only ‘unrest’ and tension could be Iran-related, though the Baghdad embassy has at various times over several years come under Shia militia attacks, and even rioting outside its gates.

The embassy is already operating with limited staff, so in reality the move affects a small number of people.

As it stands, nonessential personnel and family members in Bahrain and Kuwait are being authorized to leave voluntarily, per the report. The Pentagon has further indicated it is ready to assist with a possible evacuation from the Baghdad embassy.

But if the US and Iran proceed with the next round of talks, these immediate tensions are likely to be defused.

Oil prices spiked (and gold climbing) on the alarming headlines which suggest new regional conflict could be imminent, also with Israel potentially poised to act…

ADVERTISEMENT