The US has begun to temporarily withdraw some of its personnel from military bases in the Middle East after Iran warned neighboring countries that its facilities could be attacked if Washington strikes. This comes amid Iran's largest internal protests in decades, Reuters reports .
Demonstration in support of Iranian protesters in Berlin. Photo: AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi
The protests began as demonstrations against the difficult economic situation but quickly escalated into mass protests against the clerical regime. According to various sources, the death toll ranges from 2400 to 2600 people, with over 18,000 detained.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to intervene in the situation, supporting the protesters. He promised "very strong action" if Iran cracks down on demonstrators and called on Iranians to continue protesting and seize government institutions, claiming that help was already on the way.
The exact plans and timing of potential strikes remain unclear, but several Western officials predict that an intervention could occur within the next 24 hours.
An Iranian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, reported that Tehran has asked neighboring countries — Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Turkey — to facilitate the prevention of US attacks, warning that American bases in these countries could become targets if strikes do occur. Direct contacts between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and US special envoy Steve Whitkoff have been suspended.
The US has several key facilities in the region: the Central Command headquarters in Qatar (Al Udeid) and the Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain. Qatar stated that the partial withdrawal of personnel from the base is occurring "in response to the current tensions in the region." Britain has also begun temporarily withdrawing some of its personnel from an airbase in Qatar. So far, however, there is no evidence of a mass troop withdrawal, as happened before an Iranian missile strike last year.
Iranian authorities accuse the US and Israel of fueling the protests and call the participants "armed terrorists." At the same time, they try to show that the situation remains under their control: state television broadcasts footage of mass funerals in Tehran, Isfahan, Bushehr, and other cities, demonstrating support for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Meanwhile, the country's president, Masoud Pezeshkian, stated that as long as the government has the support of the people, all enemy efforts will be in vain.
According to Western officials, although the scale of the protests and the level of violence are striking, the situation does not yet indicate a government collapse. Iran's security forces remain under control, and key security structures are operating reliably. The problem remains limited access to information due to internet shutdown, which complicates an accurate assessment of the situation.
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Могуць прымяніць, а могуць і не прымяніць