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U.S. intelligence assessments suggests Iranian preparations to attack Americans in the Middle East have reached “advanced stages,” U.S. officials told The Wall Street Journal, citing a Friday memo from Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The memo says Iran “has substantially increased efforts to target U.S. personnel,” with “lethal plotting” at advanced stages “in both the Middle East and certain other countries.” The Journal says U.S. personnel have left embassies and bases, including an ordered departure at the embassy in Saudi Arabia “and other countries,” and that a U.S. official said suspected Iranian plots informed the decision. Earlier reporting has been mixed. NBC News reported October 21st that the U.S. had quietly reduced troops at bases including in Jordan, Qatar and Kuwait and cut staffing at multiple diplomatic posts. That same day, journalist Timour Azhari posted, citing U.S. officials, that State was preparing ordered departures at embassies across the Gulf. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott replied, “This is inaccurate,” saying the ordered departure covered Saudi Arabia only, and cited Houthi attacks. Officials told the Journal President Donald J. Trump is leaning toward resuming major combat operations, though no decision has been made. Source: www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/u-s-evacuate...