US relocates military assets, restricts access to major Middle East base 

The United States military has repositioned several aircraft and naval vessels from Middle East bases considered vulnerable to potential Iranian attacks, according to two U.S. officials speaking to Reuters on Wednesday.

These precautionary moves come as US President Donald Trump continues to keep the international community in suspense over whether the U.S. will join Israel’s ongoing airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure. The Israeli campaign has entered its sixth day, prompting a mass exodus of residents from Tehran.

In a related development, the U.S. Embassy in Qatar issued a security alert on Thursday, temporarily restricting American personnel from accessing Al Udeid Air Base — the largest U.S. military installation in the Middle East, located near Doha. The embassy urged U.S. citizens in Qatar to remain vigilant “out of an abundance of caution and in light of ongoing regional hostilities.”

The officials, who requested anonymity, confirmed that the repositioning of assets was intended to enhance force protection, but did not disclose specific details regarding the number or final location of the redeployed units.

One official noted that aircraft not housed in reinforced shelters were moved from Al Udeid, while naval vessels were relocated from a port in Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.

“This is a routine precaution,” the official stated. “Protecting our forces is the top priority.”

Earlier this week, Reuters reported a significant movement of U.S. military hardware, including tanker aircraft being redirected to Europe and an influx of fighter jets into the Middle East. An American aircraft carrier currently stationed in the Indo-Pacific is also en route to the region.

The heightened military activity follows Israel’s claim last Friday that Iran is nearing the development of a nuclear weapon — an accusation Tehran firmly denies, maintaining that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.

Iran has warned the United States that any direct involvement in Israel’s military actions would prompt a strong and immediate response. The message was conveyed by Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva on Wednesday.