The U.S. State Department has ordered non-emergency government personnel and their family members to leave the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, as tensions mount over a possible American military strike against Iran.

The State Department issued the order on Monday (February 23), citing a security review that led officials to reduce the embassy's staffing to essential personnel only. A source at the embassy told Haaretz that around 50 people had been evacuated, while an official at Beirut's airport confirmed that 32 embassy staff members and family members had already flown out of the country.

"We continuously assess the security environment, and based on our latest review, we determined it prudent to reduce our footprint to essential personnel," a senior State Department official said anonymously. "The Embassy remains operational with core staff in place. This is a temporary measure intended to ensure the safety of our personnel while maintaining our ability to operate and assist U.S. citizens."

The drawdown comes as President Donald Trump has directed a major military buildup in the Middle East and is reportedly leaning toward ordering a limited strike on Iran within days. Advisers say potential targets include assets belonging to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as well as nuclear and missile sites. The buildup is described as one of the largest U.S. military presences in the region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

President Trump has warned Iran it must reach a deal with the United States over its nuclear enrichment activities, ballistic missile program, and support for proxy groups — including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, Shia militias in Iraq, and the Houthis in Yemen. Trump carried out airstrikes against Iranian nuclear facilities alongside Israel last June, burying Iran's stockpile of 60-percent enriched uranium. The U.S. now wants those materials removed from the country entirely.

Iran has maintained it retains the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes and is not seeking a nuclear weapon. However, its production of 60-percent enriched uranium has drawn criticism from Western nations, who say it creates the building blocks for a weapon. Iran has also threatened to retaliate against U.S. bases, facilities, and "assets" if it faces military aggression.

Western officials are reportedly concerned that Iran could activate its regional proxy networks against U.S. targets in the Middle East and Europe if strikes are ordered, though no specific plot has been detected.

Separately, U.S. forces began pulling out of their largest base in northeastern Syria on Monday (February 23), with dozens of trucks carrying armored vehicles departing the Qasrak base in Hasakah province, according to Haaretz. The withdrawal reflects a broader reduction in the U.S. military footprint in Syria as the U.S.-allied government in Damascus moves to consolidate control of the country.

Amid the escalating tensions, U.S. and Iranian negotiators are scheduled to meet in Geneva on Thursday (February 26), where the U.S. has pushed Iran to put forward a proposal that meets American demands. The New York Times reported Sunday that a new framework is being considered that would allow Iran very limited nuclear enrichment, restricted solely to medical research and treatment purposes.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also continuing plans to travel to Israel, with the exact timing remaining flexible, a State Department official confirmed.

Sunday Nights with Bill Cunningham