U.S. may strike Iran within 24 hours as Pentagon withdraws personnel from Middle East bases

Reuters reported the information, citing European officials and Western military sources.

A U.S. official confirmed Wednesday that some personnel are being pulled from bases in the region as a precautionary measure, following warnings from Tehran that American installations would be targeted if Washington launches strikes. The drawdown includes staff from Qatar's Al Udeid air base, the largest U.S. military facility in the Middle East, according to Qatari officials who cited "current regional tensions" as the reason.

"All the signals are that a U.S. attack is imminent, but that is also how this administration behaves to keep everyone on their toes. Unpredictability is part of the strategy," a Western military official told Reuters. Two European officials indicated that U.S. military intervention could occur within 24 hours, while an Israeli official said it appeared President Donald Trump had decided to act, though the scope and timing remained unclear.

The escalating crisis comes as Iran faces what French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot called "the most violent repression in Iran's contemporary history." Protests that began two weeks ago over economic conditions have rapidly intensified, with the U.S.-based HRANA rights group verifying at least 2,403 protester deaths and 147 government-affiliated casualties—far exceeding previous waves of unrest in 2022 and 2009.

Trump has repeatedly threatened intervention on behalf of anti-government demonstrators. In a CBS News interview Tuesday, he vowed "very strong action" if Iran executes protesters and urged Iranians to continue demonstrations, declaring "help is on the way."

A senior Iranian official, speaking anonymously, said Tehran had warned regional neighbors including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Turkey that "U.S. bases in those countries will be attacked" if Washington targets Iran. The official also confirmed that direct contacts between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff have been suspended.

Despite the massive scale of unrest, one Western official said the government does not appear to face imminent collapse and its security apparatus remains in control. Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Abdolrahim Mousavi acknowledged Wednesday that Iran has "never faced this volume of destruction," while blaming foreign enemies for the turmoil.

The United States maintains significant military presence across the region, including the forward headquarters of Central Command at Al Udeid and the Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain. Britain has also reportedly withdrawn some personnel from an air base in Qatar, according to the i newspaper.