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The United States ordered non-emergency government employees and their families to leave Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, October 21, citing deadly Houthi attacks on civilian infrastructure and the risk of further escalation. The departure order affects US diplomats in Saudi Arabia serving at the embassy in Riyadh and its consulates.

The State Department said attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement had caused civilian casualties and serious travel disruption. It warned that the hostilities could spread rapidly beyond the immediate area. The announcement followed repeated strikes on airports and energy facilities across the kingdom.

The Saudi Arabia evacuation order covers designated government personnel and family members. It does not amount to an announcement that every American diplomat is leaving or that all US diplomatic missions in the country are closing.

Departure Order Covers US Diplomats in Saudi Arabia

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott confirmed that the mandatory departure applied to non-emergency personnel and their families in Saudi Arabia only. His statement clarified the scope after reports suggested Washington was preparing broader withdrawals from diplomatic missions across the Gulf.

The embassy in Riyadh had already operated with reduced staffing for months after sustaining damage early in the Iran war. Some personnel had returned in recent months before the latest security deterioration prompted another reduction.

The department also indicated that other Gulf missions would undergo temporary staffing adjustments. Those missions were already operating under restrictions limiting personnel numbers. Such changes are separate from the confirmed ordered departure in Saudi Arabia.

The latest announcement therefore represents a further reduction in Washington’s diplomatic presence rather than a complete embassy evacuation. The distinction is significant because the order identifies employees whose duties are not considered essential during the heightened security threat.

Airport Attacks Disrupt Departures and Commercial Flights

The security alert highlighted the danger to civilian aviation. Earlier warnings had already required US government personnel to obtain special permission before using any Saudi airport.

Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport had remained closed since October 10 following a severe attack. Limited flights resumed Wednesday after Saudi aviation authorities told airlines two days earlier that operations could restart with prior approval.

Saudia and Flynas were among the Saudi carriers operating flights. The limited reopening did not restore normal international connectivity: Lufthansa and Air France had canceled services to Riyadh through mid-November.

The Houthis acknowledged targeting the airport. They alleged, without providing evidence, that Saudi Arabia used the facility to supply military equipment to Yemeni government forces.

Later Wednesday, a separate attack struck King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. Saudi aviation authorities reported one death, eight injuries and material damage, while flights were diverted. Responsibility for that attack had not been established in the initial account.

The disruption complicated travel as US diplomats in Saudi Arabia faced departure instructions. Permission for selected flights to operate did not remove the wider security warning or guarantee that scheduled services would continue.

The State Department travel advisory and mission alerts addressed both the threat of further attacks and the practical difficulties of movement. Airport availability remained uneven as authorities assessed conditions and carriers maintained their own restrictions.

Energy Infrastructure Remains Under Threat

Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry said debris from an intercepted drone killed two people and injured two others at an Aramco-operated oil field in the country’s southeast.

The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis also reported intercepting five drones early Wednesday. It said air defenses destroyed them over Madinah and the Eastern Region.

Those reports described separate aspects of the security situation: casualties from falling interception debris at an energy facility and additional attempted drone attacks elsewhere. They underscored the continuing exposure of civilian and industrial locations despite defensive interceptions.

The latest incidents followed renewed fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis since mid-July. The resurgence has brought airports and other infrastructure back into the conflict, with consequences extending beyond military targets.

For US diplomats in Saudi Arabia, Wednesday’s order marked another reversal after the partial return of personnel. Washington cited the immediate danger from Houthi hostilities while maintaining that the confirmed mandatory withdrawal applied only to the kingdom.

Limited operations at Riyadh’s airport continued alongside international flight suspensions. The combination of reduced diplomatic staffing, aviation restrictions, and reported casualties left Saudi Arabia facing an active security threat as officials warned that further escalation remained possible.

For more information, visit BBC’s comprehensive article