The U.S. is withdrawing a small number of personnel as a “precautionary measure” from the main U.S. air base in Qatar, a U.S. official told CBS News. The move comes amid threats by President Trump to target Iran killing anti-government protesters in a brutal confrontation.

Al Udeid Air Force Base in Doha, Qatar, is the forward operating headquarters of US Central Command, which oversees US forces throughout the Middle East. The cuts come as Iran has already threatened to retaliate against any US military action by targeting US troops.

President Trump said in one interview with “CBS Evening News” anchor Tony Doukoupil who is he will take “very strong action” if the regime starts hanging protesters in response to mass demonstrations.

CBS News reported earlier this week that the president received briefings on the series military and secret tools target Iran beyond conventional airstrikes. Such measures could include cyber and psychological operations that could occur concurrently with traditional military force.

The precautionary withdrawal at Al Udeid comes as the president weighs options and observes what Iran’s response might be.

Reuters first reported that the US military was reducing its presence at the base.

The military similarly withdrew personnel from Al Udeid last summer around the time of the U.S. bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities. After that bombing, coined Operation Midnight Hammer, Iran retaliated targeting Al Udeid with a dozen ballistic missiles. Almost all of the rockets were intercepted and no one was injured in the attack, partly due to troop reductions.

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, said at a press conference after the attack last June that the US military had reduced to a “minimum force posture” throughout the region, including Al Udeid. Most of the personnel left the base, leaving only a few soldiers.

Overall, Al Udeid is the largest US base in the Middle East with around 8,000 to 10,000 US troops.