The United States has ordered non-essential embassy personnel and their families to leave Saudi Arabia following a surge in deadly attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement.
The US State Department announced the decision on Wednesday, citing growing security threats from attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure across the kingdom.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the Houthis had increasingly engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, resulting in civilian casualties and significant travel disruptions.
“The safety and security of Department personnel and their families remain our highest priority,” Mr Pigott said in a social media post.
He added that Washington would continue taking necessary measures to protect its personnel and their families.
Deadly attacks raise security concerns
Saudi Arabia has experienced near-daily attacks attributed to the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen this month, as fighting in the region intensifies.
On Wednesday, an attack at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam killed one person and injured eight others, according to Saudi aviation authorities.
Separately, the Saudi Energy Ministry reported that two people were killed and two others injured after falling debris from the interception of a drone targeting an oil facility.
The incident occurred at the Shaybah oilfield, operated by Saudi Aramco, near the United Arab Emirates border.
Saudi authorities did not immediately identify the party responsible for the drone targeting the oil facility.
The attacks have heightened concerns about the safety of civilians, foreign personnel and critical infrastructure in the kingdom.
US clarifies scope of departure order
The announcement followed reports that Washington was considering withdrawing some diplomatic personnel and their families from several Gulf countries.
A diplomatic source told the Agence France-Presse that families of US embassy personnel were also being withdrawn from the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain.
However, Mr Pigott clarified that the official departure order applied specifically to non-emergency US government employees and their families in Saudi Arabia.
The distinction came amid conflicting reports about the extent of the planned withdrawals across the region.
The US Embassy in Riyadh also issued a security alert warning American citizens about the possibility of further Houthi attacks and urging them to remain vigilant.
Escalating regional conflict
The latest withdrawal comes amid renewed fighting in Yemen and broader regional tensions following the US-Israeli war against Iran, which began in late February 2026.
Washington had previously withdrawn some diplomatic personnel from the Gulf region after Iranian attacks on US facilities, before returning some staff in subsequent months.
The renewed Houthi attacks have added to security concerns across the region, with potential consequences for international travel, energy infrastructure and global trade.
The US government has said the safety of its personnel remains a priority as it monitors developments and assesses the risks facing its diplomatic missions.
Discover more from VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
