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WASHINGTON — <\/span>Some personnel at a key U.S. military base in Qatar have been advised to evacuate by Wednesday evening, a U.S. official said. The decision came as a senior official in Iran brought up an earlier Iranian attack there.<\/p>\n The official, who spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive plans, described the move at the base as a precautionary measure. The official wouldn\u2019t go into any further details about the move, including whether the evacuation was optional or mandatory, if it affected troops or civilian personnel, or the number of those advised to leave, citing the need for operational security.<\/p>\n In response, Qatar said Wednesday that such measures were being \u201cundertaken in response to the current regional tensions.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe IMO reaffirms that the State of Qatar continues to implement all necessary measures to safeguard the security and safety of its citizens and residents as a top priority, including actions related to the protection of critical infrastructure and military facilities,\u201d Qatar\u2019s media office said in a post on X.<\/p>\n It comes as anti-government protests in nearby Iran continue and President Donald Trump has said that he is willing to conduct military operations in the country if the government continues to retaliate against the protesters.<\/p>\n The base, which hosts thousands of U.S. service members, was targeted by Iran in June in retaliation for U.S. strikes on its nuclear facilities.<\/p>\n Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on the social platform X wrote \u201cthe #US President, who repeatedly talks about the futile aggression against #Iran\u2019s nuclear facilities, would do well to also mention the destruction of the US base in #Al-Udeid by Iranian missiles.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt would certainly help create a real understanding of Iran\u2019s will and ability to respond to any aggression,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Iranian and Qatari officials had spoken on Tuesday amid the deadly crackdown in Iran and America\u2019s escalating threats to intervene if protesters are not spared.<\/p>\n Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran\u2019s Supreme National Security Council, had a phone call with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar\u2019s prime minister.<\/p>\n In a statement on X, Al Thani said that he \u201creaffirmed the State of Qatar\u2019s backing of all de-escalation efforts, as well as peaceful solutions to enhance security and stability in the region.\u201d<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n Amiri reported from New York.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n Associated Press writer Farnoush Amiri in New York contributed to this report.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n