21 US Troops Killed as Intelligence Memo Triggers Staff Cuts in Seven Middle East Missions
Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton warned that Iranian plots against American personnel have reached advanced stages, prompting the State Department to reduce staff at seven embassies.
By Alessia Romano ·
A new intelligence memo confirms that threats to American personnel in the Middle East have reached their peak since the war with Iran began in late February.
The first key point is the specific directive issued by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton. In a memo sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Clayton stated that US agencies have gathered evidence showing Iran has substantially increased efforts to target US personnel overseas. The assessment indicates that lethal plots are in advanced stages not only in the Middle East but also in Europe. This internal communication was first reported by Axios and later confirmed by The New York Times, which noted that Washington has not publicly commented on the document. However, a US official told the Times that the memo is authentic. The threat level is currently described as the highest it has been since the conflict started on February 28.
The second key point involves the immediate logistical response from the State Department. On Wednesday, the department announced the removal of non essential staff from its embassy in Saudi Arabia. This decision cited escalating attacks on Saudi infrastructure by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. Quiet staff reductions are also occurring at six other missions in the region. CNN reports that these additional cuts affect embassies in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Lebanon. A US official told the Times that the decisions are driven by Houthi attacks and Iranian terror plots targeting US officials. This move reduces the physical presence of US diplomatic staff in these seven countries.
The third key point is the casualty count and strategic posture of the Iranian military. The Pentagon has confirmed that 21 US military personnel have been killed in the Middle East since the war began. In response to the US staff reductions, Revolutionary Guard spokesman Hossein Mohebbi said on Wednesday that Tehran would adopt a new offensive strategy if the US renewed attacks. He stated that Iran would no longer limit itself to retaliation and added that the quality, range, and power of Iranian missiles had improved. This statement suggests a shift from a defensive posture to a more aggressive tactical approach.
Context for these developments includes detailed plans reported by Reuters. Two senior Iranian security officials said Tehran has detailed plans to target undersea communications cables in the Gulf if new US-Israeli attacks occur. Iran's security chief Mohsen Rezaei warned that cables, data centers, and artificial intelligence facilities across the region could be hit if war resumes. US authorities have a long history of accusing Iran of plotting against Americans. In March, a US court convicted a Pakistani national of plotting to assassinate President Donald Trump on the orders of the Revolutionary Guard. In 2022, a Guard member was charged with arranging the killing of former national security adviser John Bolton. Last year, the US intelligence community said Iran would continue to directly threaten US persons globally, especially those involved in the 2020 killing of Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani. This month, the US pulled bombers from an airbase in England over fears of a possible attack. That move followed a security incident at the base, after which UK authorities arrested several men on suspicion of working with Iranian intelligence.
