The US State Department has ordered some diplomats and the families of US government employees to leave Saudi Arabia due to a surge in attacks from the Iranian-supported Houthis in Yemen. This decision follows a series of assaults on civilian infrastructure, including an attack on an airport and an oilfield that resulted in at least three fatalities on Wednesday evening.
Context of the Withdrawals
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott emphasized that the safety and security of department personnel and their families is the highest priority. The withdrawal order affects the US embassy in Riyadh and its satellite consulates, which have been operating with a limited staff since the onset of the US-Iran conflict. Although some diplomats had recently returned, the situation has escalated, prompting this latest action.
Recent Attacks
Saudi Arabia has experienced a series of deadly assaults from the Houthis in recent weeks. Notably, a strike on Riyadh’s international airport was reported as one of the deadliest in years. On Wednesday evening, the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that one Saudi resident was killed in attacks on King Fahad International Airport in Dammam, with eight others injured and significant material damage reported. Global flight-tracking service Flightradar24 indicated that flights were diverted from the airport due to the attacks.
