WASHINGTON (AP) — American diplomats and at least some of their family members are beginning to return to U.S. embassies in the Middle East after many were ordered to leave their posts during the early days of the war with Iran.
Although most embassies are not returning to full strength immediately, starting this week the State Department has begun to lift certain staffing and other restrictions on personnel.
The changes are not necessarily reflective of a shift in the Trump administration's policy toward Iran — now focused on economic rather than kinetic military warfare. Instead, the changes are mainly due to the legalities of human resources policy, which limits the time diplomats may be away from post while still being paid and collecting benefits for themselves and their families.
On Friday, the day the Iran war hit its six-month mark, embassies in Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain announced they would allow diplomats’ family members to return, although in Bahrain and Kuwait it applies only to those older than 18.
Earlier in the week, all family members of U.S. government employees in Israel, as well as those who are over 21 of those who work in Lebanon, were given the go-ahead to return.
These embassies were all placed on “ordered departure” or “authorized departure” status in March as Iran began retaliating for U.S. and Israeli attacks by targeting U.S. interests, including embassies and military facilities, and creating chaotic situations in countries around the region.
Ordered departure means that all nonessential personnel and families must leave the country. Authorized departure means that staff deemed nonessential and their families may leave.
However, regulations time-limit those statuses, which were beginning to expire six months after being initiated, meaning affected diplomats and their families would be losing their housing and other benefits, creating significant hardships among the workforce.
To deal with this, the State Department created a new status — that of “restricted operations” — which is designed to allow the embassies to resume normal functions. On a case-by-case basis, each affected embassy will make its own determination on appropriate staffing, the presence of families and pay and benefits.
Diplomats and their families were ordered to leave embassies in another five countries in the region early in the war, and changes in status at some of them also were anticipated soon.
“We remain committed to supporting our workforce and their families throughout this process and will provide updates through appropriate channels as decisions are made,” the department said.
FILE - Qatar's police surround the U.S. embassy during a demonstration in Doha, Qatar, Sept. 14, 2012. (AP Photo/Osama Faisal, File)
FILE - A Bahraini armored personnel vehicle and personnel reinforce U.S. Embassy security just outside of a gate to the building, surrounded in barbed wire, in Manama, Bahrain, Aug. 4, 2013.(AP Photo/Hasan Jamali, File)
FILE - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Steven Butler, charge d'affaires ad interim of the U.S. embassy in Kuwait, attend a flag raising ceremony at the embassy in Kuwait City, Kuwait, June 24, 2026. '(Eric Lee/Pool photo via AP, File)
BALTIMORE (AP) — In a preseason finale that was nearly flawless for Baltimore, kicker Tyler Loop gave the Ravens cause for concern.
Loop missed two of his four field goal attempts Friday night, the only real sour note for Baltimore in a dominant 41-3 win over the Washington Commanders. Loop's rookie season ended in heartbreaking fashion when he missed a field goal and cost the Ravens a playoff spot in their final game. He's hoping to rebound from that, but he's had enough struggles that Baltimore may have to consider bringing in some competition.
“You want to see makes in games, and so it's something we'll continue to look at,” coach Jesse Minter said. “We'll continue to look at what the best situation is there. He has had a good camp overall, but again it comes down to making the kicks in the pressure situations in the games.”
Tyler Huntley and Joe Fagnano each threw a touchdown pass in the first half for the Ravens. With deep backups playing for both teams, it's hard to take much from this game, but anyone who bothered to watch saw a one-sided affair. Baltimore finished with a 26-7 edge in first downs, with the Commanders getting three of theirs on the very last drive. The Ravens also had a 456-177 advantage in total yards.
“It does not matter, you guys, who is or isn't playing. What we saw tonight simply was not good enough,” Washington coach Dan Quinn said. “What makes this even harder is knowing what the next couple days look like, and making tough decisions.”
That was a reference to Sunday, when roster cuts are due.
Loop may not have to worry about that, but his job won't seem all that secure unless he becomes more consistent. In fairness, one of his misses Friday was from 58 yards, but the other was from 51, a pretty routine distance these days. He made field goals of 51 and 24 yards to finish 5 of 8 in three exhibition games this year.
“I know the expectation is to make kicks, and it's what we got to do. I have to carry over the ball-striking from pregame and practice, and it's got to happen every time,” he said. “We got two weeks until (the season opener at) Indy, and we're going to be hyper-focused on that. We're headed into the season, stat sheet's clear, and it's time to go.”
Huntley played only the first offensive series Friday and completed all four of his passes, including a 25-yard scoring strike to Chris Moore that made it 7-0.
Then Kaytron Allen fumbled on Washington's first offensive play, gifting the Ravens a short field. Fagnano scored on a 1-yard sneak.
LaJohntay Wester made it 24-0 with 3:46 remaining in the half, reaching back with one arm and hauling in a 10-yard touchdown pass from Fagnano, but Loop's 51-yarder at the end of the second quarter was wide left.
Jonathan Ward's 2-yard TD run made it 31-0 before an interception by Quindell Johnson put the Commanders in field goal range for their first points of the game.
In the fourth, Dontae McMillan broke free for a 63-yard run on his first carry of the game, and then Austin Reed threw a 20-yard scoring pass to Cornelius Johnson for a 41-3 lead. Baltimore won all three of its preseason games.
The Commanders (1-2) didn't have enough offensive plays to get anyone that many touches until late in the game. Athan Kaliakmanis went 7 of 13 for 45 yards. Sam Hartman relieved him and went 9 of 14 for 64 yards. Washington was 1 for 12 on third down.
Robert Henry Jr. had 33 yards on 10 carries and Craig Reynolds had 38 on nine. Lawrence Cager had six catches for 34 yards.
Ward had 53 yards on seven carries for Baltimore and Rasheen Ali had 28 yards on nine attempts. Adam Randall had 25 yards on five carries along with three catches for 45 yards.
Commanders: Open the season at Philadelphia on Sept. 13.
Ravens: Open at Indianapolis that same day.
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
Baltimore Ravens running back Johnathan Ward (35) dives over Washington Commanders defensive back Qwuantrezz Knight Sr. (32) during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Baltimore Ravens running back Dontae McMillan (36) runs for a first down against the Washington Commanders during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Cornelius Johnson (86) celebrates with Elijah Sarratt (13) after catching a touchdown pass against the Washington Commanders during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Cornelius Johnson (86) catches a pass for a touchdown as Washington Commanders' Qwuantrezz Knight Sr. (32) and Fred Davis II (38) defend during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Baltimore Ravens kicker Tyler Loop (33) misses a field goal attempt against the Washington Commanders during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
