US Orders Non-Emergency Embassy Staff to Leave Saudi Arabia Over Houthi Attacks
The US embassy in Riyadh said families and non-essential government employees were told to depart on 23 October as hostilities with Yemen's Houthis put airports and infrastructure at risk.
By Liam Kaminski ·
The United States has ordered non-emergency government employees and their family members to leave Saudi Arabia, the US embassy in Riyadh said on Wednesday, citing safety risks linked to escalating hostilities with Yemen's Houthis.
In a security alert posted on X on 28 October, the embassy said the State Department's order took effect on 23 October. The alert described the Houthis as Iranian-supported and said they have carried out attacks on Saudi Arabia, including strikes on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure.
According to the embassy, those attacks have caused civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions. It warned that the hostilities "have the potential to escalate rapidly beyond that immediate area."
The alert also introduced new restrictions on how US officials move through the country. Government employees working in Saudi Arabia now need special authorization from the Chief of Mission to use any airport in the kingdom, a step taken after recent missile and drone attacks on airports.
The embassy gave an update on the state of several major airports. King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh announced a partial reopening as of 23 October, handling domestic flights and some international services run by national carriers. A limited number of flights normally based in Riyadh are instead operating from Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Qassim.
Operations at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam are running, though the embassy noted some delays and cancellations at both.
US citizens were urged to exercise "extreme caution" if they choose to fly in or out of Saudi Arabia. The embassy told them to be aware of the potential for attacks on airports, airspace closures, flight cancellations and wider travel disruptions.
It also recommended that travelers check the status of their departures directly with their airline and the relevant airport before heading out.
Source: Middle East Eye
