An escalating battle between Israel and Iran raised fears of broader conflict. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Pete Hegseth authorized U.S. military dependents in the Middle East to voluntarily depart amid increased tension in the Middle East.

The United States is drawing down the presence of staffers who are not deemed essential to operations in the Middle East and their loved ones due to the potential for regional unrest.

The price of Dubai swaps, which is a contract settled against physical prices of Dubai crude, rose 5.8% on June 13 to end at $71.03 a barrel. The gain of $3.86 a barrel for Dubai swaps contrasts with the $4.87 jump for Brent contracts.

Shapiro served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East until January—charged with, among other things, considering scenarios in which tensions between Israel and Iran escalated into all-out war and preparing U.

The United States has pulled some diplomatic staff and military families out of the Middle East, citing unspecified regional security risks.

As of mid-2025, there are about 40,000 to 50,000 US troops in the Middle East, comprising personnel stationed in both large, permanent bases and smaller forward sites across the region.

Rising tensions with Iran and fears of an Israeli strike prompted the U.S. to move some of its nonmilitary personnel out of the region.

The Ukrainian president says he was informed the U.S. would divert key defensive weapons from Ukraine to the Middle East.