The United States Department of State has ordered non-essential US government employees and their eligible family members to depart from the US Embassy in Beirut.

A senior State Department official told MTV that the security environment is continuously assessed, and based on the latest review, it was deemed prudent to reduce the embassy presence to essential personnel only.

The official confirmed that the US Embassy in Beirut remains operational with essential staff in place, noting that this measure is temporary and aims to ensure the safety of employees while maintaining the embassy’s ability to continue its duties and assist US citizens.