ISTANBUL The US Embassy in Qatar said Sunday it is reducing operations with its remaining emergency personnel as escalation continues to rise across the Middle East region. In a statement, the embassy advised all American citizens in Qatar to stay alert and be ready “to duck and cover in a secure location” if the Qatari authorities issue an alert. “Please exercise caution, as the Iranian government and its proxies may seek to target Americans in retaliation for US strikes against Iran,” it