The U.S. military has "quietly" reduced the presence of troops at bases across the Middle East in recent days, and the State Department has ordered further reductions in staff at several diplomatic posts in the region, NBC reported, citing two American officials and two sources familiar with the matter. According to them, this is similar to the reduction of American forces and diplomatic staff around the start of the war with Iran in February, and "in response to ongoing threats in the region, including from Iran." The sources noted that soldiers were evacuated from bases in Jordan, Qatar and Kuwait, among others.