The short version
- The US State Department has ordered non-essential government employees and their families to leave Saudi Arabia due to escalating Houthi attacks on civilian infrastructure.
- Recent strikes on King Fahd International Airport and a southern oil field have resulted in at least three deaths and multiple injuries, disrupting regional travel and energy operations.
- Officials denied reports of similar diplomatic withdrawals in neighboring Gulf states, though media outlets suggest broader security concerns across the region.
The United States Department of State has issued an ordered departure for non-emergency US government employees and their family members stationed in Saudi Arabia. This directive marks a significant escalation in security measures as hostilities between Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi forces and the Gulf kingdom intensify. A State Department spokesperson emphasized that the safety of personnel remains the highest priority, citing recent attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure that have resulted in casualties and severe travel disruptions.
The order applies specifically to the US embassy in Riyadh and its satellite consulates. The diplomatic mission had been operating with a skeleton staff for months following damage sustained at the start of the broader conflict involving Iran. While some diplomats had returned in recent weeks, the new directive reverses that trend. Officials warned that the current hostilities have the potential to escalate rapidly, necessitating the precautionary withdrawal of non-essential staff.
The decision follows a series of deadly strikes across Saudi Arabia over the past month. On Wednesday evening, attacks targeted two distinct sites. At King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, located on the Gulf coast near Bahrain and Qatar, one person was killed and eight others were injured with wounds ranging from minor to serious. The airport suffered material damage, prompting flight-tracking services to note diversions away from the facility.
Simultaneously, debris from a drone intercepted during an attempted attack on the Shaybah oil field in the country’s southeast killed two people and injured two others. Saudi authorities confirmed the casualties but did not immediately attribute responsibility for the specific strikes, although airports and energy facilities have been primary targets of Houthi missile and drone campaigns. The recent strike on Riyadh’s international airport earlier this month was described as the deadliest in the kingdom in years.
The conflict has roots in a civil war that began when Houthis ousted the government from Sanaa in 2014, escalating further after a Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015. An informal ceasefire held for four years until unraveling in July. The Houthis announced a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia, launching attacks on airports, oil facilities, and tankers in the Red Sea. They stated these actions were retaliation for what they described as a Saudi blockade of their territory and an airstrike on Sanaa airport.
The Houthi maritime embargo in the Bab al-Mandab Strait has contributed to a surge in global oil prices. Saudi Arabia had relied heavily on the Red Sea for exports after the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed due to war between the US, Israel, and Iran. The disruption of these vital trade routes underscores the economic stakes of the ongoing violence, affecting not just regional stability but global energy markets.
Confusion persists regarding the scope of US diplomatic withdrawals in the wider region. Media reports suggested that families of embassy personnel were also being pulled from the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar, and Bahrain. However, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott explicitly described those reports as inaccurate, stressing that the departure order was limited to Saudi Arabia only. This clarification aims to prevent panic or misinterpretation of US policy in neighboring Gulf states.
Broader geopolitical tensions loom over the situation. Reports indicate that the Trump administration is developing plans to restart military operations against Iran following recent midterm elections. While President Trump has publicly stated he does not intend to resume war before November 3, defense officials have reportedly discussed short but intensive operations targeting Iranian nuclear sites. The US military has also been quietly scaling back its presence at bases across the Middle East, though commanders attribute such movements to routine optimization of mission readiness.
The UK has announced it will deploy jets to help defend Saudi Arabia from Houthi attacks, signaling international involvement in the security crisis. As the situation evolves, the combination of direct military strikes, economic disruption, and diplomatic withdrawals highlights the fragility of the current truce. The potential for rapid escalation remains a central concern for both regional actors and international observers monitoring the conflict.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- BBC News↗US State Department orders some staff to leave Saudi Arabia as attacks escalate
- The Guardian US↗Some US diplomats told to leave Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks
