Middle East & North Africa
BREAKING: US orders non-emergency diplomats and families to leave Saudi Arabia after deadly Houthi attacks
The State Department ordered the departure of non-emergency US government personnel and their families from Saudi Arabia after a series of deadly Houthi attacks. Washington clarified that the order applies only to Saudi Arabia, while embassies elsewhere in the Gulf will see temporary staffing changes.
The US State Department on Wednesday, October 21, ordered the departure of non-emergency personnel and the families of American government employees from Saudi Arabia, after a series of deadly attacks by Yemen’s Houthis. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott wrote on X that an “ordered departure for non-emergency US government employees and their family members” was issued “for Saudi Arabia only”. The order covers the embassy in Riyadh and the country’s consulates, according to the Associated Press.
In a new travel advisory, the department says that “the Iran-backed Houthis have engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, with attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure that caused civilian casualties and serious disruption to travel”. It adds that the hostilities “can escalate quickly beyond the immediate region”. US government employees need special authorisation to use any Saudi airport.
Earlier, Reuters and AFP had reported that the departure would affect embassies across the Gulf. The State Department clarified that the order applies only to Saudi Arabia, while embassies in other Gulf states, which are already operating with limited staff, will see temporary staffing changes. According to Reuters, several diplomats’ families are expected to leave Arab countries in the Persian Gulf. The embassy in Riyadh suffered serious damage at the start of the war with Iran and had been operating for months with minimal staff.
The Houthis frequently target Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, which has been closed since October 10 after a heavy attack. On Wednesday a few Saudi carriers such as Saudia and Flynas flew again, but Lufthansa and Air France cancelled their flights to Riyadh until mid-November. Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry announced that debris from a downed drone killed two people and injured two others at an Aramco oil field in the south-east of the country.
The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis said the group launched five drones early on Wednesday, which were shot down over Medina and the Eastern Province. The attacks have intensified since mid-July, with ballistic missiles and drones against cities and infrastructure. On the same day, Emmanuel Macron announced in Riyadh that French forces are in the country to help protect the pipeline to Yanbu.
