India, Jan. 14 -- The United States is withdrawing its troops from key bases in the Middle East as a precaution amid heightened regional tensions and threat from Iran, mutliple reports said on Wednesday.

A US official told Associated Press that several personnel from a key base in Qatar were advised to evacuate by Wednesday evening.

The development comes after Iran, in the face of threats by the US, said earlier on Wednesday that it had had warned neighbors hosting American troops that it would hit US bases if Washington strikes.

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An AFP report citing officials said that personnel deployed at Qatar's Al Udeid military base were told to depart. Qatar holds the largest American military base in ...