US Orders Diplomats to Leave Saudi Arabia Amid Houthi Strikes
The United States has ordered non-emergency government employees and their family members to leave Saudi Arabia following a series of deadly attacks attributed to Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, raising concerns about the security of American personnel and civilians in the kingdom.
The US State Department confirmed on October 21 that the departure order applies to non-emergency US government employees and their families in Saudi Arabia. The decision follows attacks on civilian airports and critical infrastructure that have caused casualties and disrupted air travel.
Deadly Attacks Target Airports and Oil Facilities
The departure order came amid a series of attacks across Saudi Arabia. An attack at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam killed one person and injured eight others, according to Saudi authorities.
Separately, two people were killed and two others injured after debris from an intercepted drone fell near a facility operated by Saudi Aramco at the Shaybah oilfield in southeastern Saudi Arabia.
Saudi-led coalition forces also reported intercepting drones directed towards the kingdom, including over the Eastern Region and near Madinah. The incidents have heightened concerns over the safety of airports, energy installations and other critical infrastructure.
US Embassy Warns of Further Attacks
The US Embassy in Riyadh issued a security alert warning American citizens about the possibility of additional Houthi attacks. US government personnel have also faced restrictions on using Saudi airports, reflecting concerns about further disruptions and threats to civilian aviation.
The embassy had suffered damage during earlier attacks in March and operated with reduced staffing for months. Some diplomatic personnel had returned in recent months, but the latest departure order signals renewed efforts to protect US employees and their families.
The State Department said the safety and security of its personnel and their families remained a priority as the situation continued to develop.
Departure Order Applies to Saudi Arabia
The US government clarified that the formal ordered departure applies specifically to non-emergency personnel and their families in Saudi Arabia. Reports of a broader, region-wide evacuation order were disputed by the State Department.
US diplomatic missions in other Gulf countries may make temporary staffing adjustments under existing restricted-operation arrangements. However, Washington has not announced a blanket order requiring all American diplomats across the Gulf to leave.
The escalation comes amid a wider regional conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which has disrupted travel, threatened energy infrastructure and placed additional pressure on Gulf security.
The Houthis, who are aligned with Iran, have intensified hostilities against Saudi Arabia, according to US officials. The latest attacks have added to concerns over the potential for further violence and the impact on regional transport and energy supplies.
The departure order does not mean that all US diplomatic personnel are leaving Saudi Arabia or that the embassy is closing. Instead, it is a targeted security measure intended to reduce risks to non-emergency staff and their families while the threat remains elevated.