The US State Department has confirmed the order to evacuate non-emergency personnel from its embassy in Beirut on Monday 23 February.
The move comes after regional tensions escalated and US President Donald Trump stepped up threats against Iran.
The orders apply to non-essential personnel and eligible family members, although the embassy remains operational with core staff.
As reported by Al JazeeraFifty people had been evacuated, while a Beirut airport official reported that 32 employees and family members left on Monday, February 23.
A State Department official said: “We continually assess the security environment and, based on our most recent review, decided it was prudent to reduce our footprint to essential personnel. This is a temporary measure intended to ensure the safety of our personnel while maintaining our ability to operate and assist American citizens.”
The departure order follows Israel’s attacks across Lebanon in recent weeks, which killed at least 12 people on Friday alone.
In violation of the 2024 ceasefire agreement, Israeli forces continue to occupy five outposts inside Lebanese territory.
According to a complaint filed in January with the United States by Lebanon, Israel has committed about 2,000 violations of its sovereignty since October.
