US Evacuating Qatar Air Base, Israel PM’s Knaf Tzion Airplane Leaves Country

NEW YORK (VINnews) — Three diplomatic sources told the Reuters news agency on Wednesday that personnel at the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar were instructed to leave the base by the end of the day. Al Udeid is considered the largest and most central American base in the Middle East, with around 10,000 troops permanently stationed there, and its evacuation indicates that a possible US strike on Iran could be imminent.

At the same time, it was reported that the Israeli aircraft Knaf Tzion, the official aircraft of the prime minister, took off from Nevatim Air Base. Israeli officials clarified that this was a pre-planned maintenance and training flight, and not an unusual or exceptional event.

Tensions in the region are rising after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that it is at the highest level of alert in anticipation of a possible attack. The announcement also noted that since last June, Tehran’s missile stockpile has increased, as part of preparations for various security scenarios.

A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran has warned regional countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey, that it would consider U.S. bases on their territory legitimate targets in the event of an American military action against the regime following the protests across Iran.

Earlier, two European sources told The Washington Post that their countries had received requests from the U.S. administration to share intelligence regarding potential targets inside Iran.

One of the sources said: “There are no indications that President Trump intends to strike nuclear facilities. The more likely scenario is action against leaders of the bodies involved in suppressing the protests.”

According to the report, the U.S. National Security Council convened yesterday without President Trump’s presence, in order to prepare policy options for him.

Another European official assessed that the Iranian leadership understands that Trump could face domestic criticism from the MAGA movement if he takes military action, and therefore is offering negotiations in an effort to buy time.