US embassies in Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain let diplomats' families return

Six months into the war, the U.S. embassies in Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain said diplomats' family members may return, in Kuwait and Bahrain only those over 18, after similar steps earlier in the week for Israel and for family members over 21 in Lebanon, AP reported.

Why this matters. The State Department says the easing is driven mainly by personnel rules that limit how long staff can stay away from post, not by a change in Iran policy, and most embassies are not returning to full staffing.