At a Glance
- Hundreds of U.S. troops are leaving al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar ahead of possible strikes on Iran
- Tehran warns American and Israeli bases will be “legitimate targets” if attacked
- Iran could execute its first protester Wednesday after weeks of deadly unrest
- Why it matters: The U.S. is moving forces out of missile range while Iran threatens regional retaliation
The Pentagon has begun pulling hundreds of troops from its largest Middle East air hub in Qatar, positioning them away from Iranian retaliation as President Donald Trump weighs military action against Tehran, according to two sources briefed on the move.
Troop Evacuation Underway
Service members stationed at al-Udeid Air Base are being relocated to other regional bases and hotels, the sources told News Of Fort Worth. The shift removes personnel from the most likely flight paths of Iranian missiles or drones should Washington authorize strikes on the Islamic Republic.
The evacuation contrasts with June’s hurried withdrawal ahead of the so-called “Midnight Hammer” operation against Iranian nuclear sites. That move came at the last minute with minimal coordination, one source said. This time planning appears more deliberate.
Iranian officials responded swiftly. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned on state television that “U.S. military and maritime centers will be our legitimate targets” if American forces strike.
Execution Deadline Looms
The military preparations coincide with the expected execution of 26-year-old protester Erfan Soltani, scheduled for Wednesday according to the State Department and Amnesty International. Soltani disappeared on January 8 during nationwide demonstrations over soaring prices.
“This time, the Islamic Republic regime didn’t even bother with its usual 10-minute sham trial; Erfan was sentenced to execution without any legal process or defense lawyer,” the State Department posted on X.
Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei urged speed in punishing demonstrators, saying delays diminish the deterrent effect.
> “If we want to do something, we have to do that fast,” Mohseni-Ejei said in video carried by Iranian state TV.
Rising Death Toll
Human rights monitors report at least 2,500 people have been killed since protests erupted last month, including nearly 150 security personnel. More than 18,000 have been arrested, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).
The group says its figures come from supporters inside Iran who cross-check reports through “multiple internal checks.” A sharp jump in the death count Tuesday reflected Iranians regaining limited ability to call abroad after a 132-hour internet blackout.
Geolocated video obtained by News Of Fort Worth shows scores of bodies outside a makeshift morgue near Tehran, despite authorities claiming most victims were “ordinary citizens” killed by “terrorists” and “rioters.”
International Reaction
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot called the crackdown “the most violent repression in Iran’s contemporary history” and demanded it “stop immediately.”
Trump told CBS News that executing Soltani would trigger “very strong action” and encouraged Iranians to “keep protesting,” promising “help is on the way.” He has imposed a 25% tariff on companies doing business with Tehran while holding open both military and diplomatic options.
Israeli and Arab officials have privately urged Washington to delay strikes, fearing regional escalation. Iran’s UN mission accused the U.S. of engineering “unrest and chaos” to manufacture a pretext for intervention.
Key Takeaways
- The Pentagon is reducing its footprint at al-Udeid Air Base, its largest regional hub, to protect forces from Iranian counterstrikes
- Iran has explicitly threatened U.S. bases across the region if American missiles fly
- A communications blackout has obscured the scale of Iran’s crackdown, but emerging data points to the bloodiest internal repression in decades
- Trump has linked any military decision to Tehran’s treatment of protesters, raising the stakes around Soltani’s scheduled execution
