Some US diplomats told to leave Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks

The US State Department has ordered some diplomats and their families to leave Saudi Arabia due to escalating attacks by the Iranian-supported Houthis. These attacks, targeting civilian airports and critical infrastructure, have resulted in casualties, including three deaths at an airport and oilfield on Wednesday evening. The State Department stated that the safety and security of its personnel is its highest priority. While some media reported similar withdrawals in other Gulf nations, a State Department spokesperson denied these reports, clarifying the order applied only to Saudi Arabia. The drawdown coincides with reports of potential US plans to restart conflict with Iran, though the President has stated no intention to do so before the upcoming elections.

One person was killed and eight were injured in an attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) announced. The injured, with injuries ranging from minor to critical, were transported to hospitals. This incident follows a series of assaults on Saudi airports, including a drone interception at Saudi Aramco's Shaybah oilfield that killed two people. Previously, a projectile strike on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport on October 11 resulted in one death and 11 injuries, and another attack on the same airport on October 10 killed 12 people and injured over 300. Amidst these escalating Houthi attacks, the US State Department ordered diplomats and their families to depart from its missions in Saudi Arabia.

The US State Department has ordered non-emergency US government employees and their family members to depart from its missions in Saudi Arabia. This decision was made in response to recent attacks by Iran-aligned Houthis on civilian targets within Saudi Arabia. These attacks included a drone strike on an oilfield that killed two people and an assault on a civilian airport in Dammam that resulted in one death and eight injuries. US officials also indicated plans to withdraw family members from other US missions in the region. The State Department cited the Houthis' increasing hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including attacks on civilian airports and infrastructure, as the reason for the departures. These withdrawals coincide with an escalation of fighting in Yemen, which has become another front in the broader regional conflict.

The U.S. State Department has ordered nonessential government employees and their families to depart Saudi Arabia due to escalating hostilities by the Iran-aligned Houthi movement. The Houthis have increasingly targeted civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, including airports, leading to civilian casualties and travel disruptions. This decision prioritizes the safety and security of U.S. personnel and their families. The State Department clarified that an earlier report about departures from other Gulf embassies was inaccurate, though four U.S. officials indicated that family members might also be asked to leave missions in other Gulf states. These withdrawals follow a recent escalation of fighting in Yemen, which has impacted regional stability and global energy trade. The U.S. embassy in Riyadh issued a security alert warning of potential further Houthi attacks.