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 is the main international backer of Israel, Iran's biggest regional foe. It is also a close ally of Sunni Gulf monarchies which for years pursued their own rivalry with the Islamic Republic, seeing it as their main regional threat.

A statement released by Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed no solidarity with Israel. The response may reflect a certain irritation with Netanyahu, who, by ordering the strikes, has undermined negotiations with Tehran that Trump relaunched in March.

The United States is advising its citizens in the Middle East and North Africa region to exercise increased caution due to heightened regional tensions, the US State Department said on Thursday. Sending out a security alert,

President Donald Trump confirmed on Wednesday that U.S. personnel are being "moved out" of parts of the Middle East amid escalating tensions with Israel and Iran.

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.

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