Washington orders non-emergency government employees and their families to leave Saudi Arabia as Houthi attacks target civilian and critical infrastructure.
WEB DESK: The United States has ordered non-essential government employees and their family members to leave Saudi Arabia as security threats intensify following attacks on civilian and critical infrastructure across the kingdom.
The US State Department confirmed the ordered departure on October 21, citing increasing hostilities by Iran-aligned Houthi forces in Yemen, including attacks on civilian airports and other important infrastructure that have caused casualties and disrupted travel. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the safety of American personnel and their families remained a priority.
Deadly incidents raise security concerns
The departure order follows several deadly incidents in Saudi Arabia.
An attack at Dammam airport in eastern Saudi Arabia killed one person and injured eight others, according to reports cited by Reuters. Separately, Saudi authorities said debris from an intercepted drone targeting an oil facility at the Shaybah oilfield killed two people and injured two others. Saudi officials did not identify who launched the drone targeting the oilfield.
The US Embassy in Riyadh also issued a security alert warning of the possibility of further attacks. The incidents have increased concerns about the safety of civilians, diplomatic personnel and critical infrastructure.
US clarifies scope of departure order
The State Department stressed that its formal ordered departure applied to non-emergency US government employees and their families in Saudi Arabia.
Reuters separately reported that US officials expected family members at some other diplomatic missions in the Gulf to leave as well. However, the State Department said reports of a broader, formal departure order were inaccurate. The two developments should not be treated as the same measure.
Wider regional conflict adds to tensions
The latest security measures come amid a broader regional conflict following US and Israeli attacks on Iran in late February 2026 and subsequent retaliatory actions. Fighting involving the Houthis in Yemen has added another source of instability, while threats to regional transport and energy infrastructure have raised concerns about wider economic disruption.
The situation remains fluid. The departure order reflects Washington’s assessment of risks to its personnel; it does not, by itself, establish that a wider evacuation of all US diplomatic staff across the Gulf has been ordered.
