The Associated Press has reported that the United States has evacuated its key Al-Adeed Air Base near Doha, the capital of Qatar, of its aircraft due to fears of an Iranian attack.
A satellite image taken by Planet Labs on Wednesday and analyzed by Associated Press shows that the runway area of the base is nearly empty of aircraft—an unusual sight for a facility that typically hosts transport, combat, and drone aircraft.
While the U.S. military has not officially confirmed the relocation, the move is believed to be a continuation of the evacuation efforts seen earlier by the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain.
Security analysts say the evacuation of American bases in the region is likely due to concerns over a potential Iranian strike, especially if the U.S. becomes militarily involved in the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict, prompting Iran to target American bases in the region.