Washington Orders Departure of Non-Essential Staff and Families from Saudi Arabia

The U.S. State Department confirms the order is limited to Saudi Arabia... while Reuters reports on similar arrangements at missions in other Gulf states

The U.S. Department of State announced on Wednesday the issuance of an order for non-essential U.S. government employees and their family members to depart from Saudi Arabia, amid escalating Houthi attacks on civilian facilities and critical infrastructure within the kingdom.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott, in a post on the "X" platform, confirmed that the mandatory departure order applies only to Saudi Arabia, denying reports that Washington was preparing to issue similar orders across the Gulf region.

Pigott explained that Iran-backed Houthi forces have intensified their attacks on Saudi Arabia, including targeting civilian airports and critical facilities, resulting in civilian casualties and severe disruptions to travel.

He emphasized that the safety of U.S. State Department employees and their families remains a top priority, reaffirming the continued implementation of necessary measures to protect and support them.

Meanwhile, Reuters cited four U.S. officials as saying that U.S. diplomatic missions in other Gulf states are also preparing to issue directives for the departure of employees' family members, while Pigott did not address any potential changes at those missions.

For its part, the Associated Press reported that the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, which sustained damage at the outset of the conflict with Iran, has been operating with a limited staff for months, despite the return of some diplomats in recent weeks.

It added that the U.S. State Department issued a new security warning regarding Saudi Arabia, noting the possibility of a rapid expansion of hostilities amid ongoing Houthi attacks on airports and critical facilities.

The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh had previously issued a security warning on Wednesday regarding the potential for additional Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, following a series of strikes on critical infrastructure, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.

The U.S. decision comes amid escalating confrontations with the Houthis in Yemen and the widening repercussions of the U.S. war on Iran, which began in late February last year and has impacted navigation, trade, and energy supplies in the region.