The United States has ordered nonessential government employees and their families to leave Saudi Arabia as deadly missile and drone attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi militants threaten to ignite another major front in the Middle East conflict.
The State Department issued the evacuation order last week after a series of strikes targeted civilian airports, oil facilities and other critical infrastructure across the kingdom, killing several people and throwing air travel into chaos.
The violence has already claimed at least three lives in two separate attacks, including a strike on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam that killed one person and injured eight others.
Two more people were killed when Saudi air defenses intercepted a drone targeting Saudi Aramco’s Shaybah oilfield.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott confirmed the mandatory departure order applied to nonemergency U.S. government personnel and their families in Saudi Arabia, warning that the security situation could deteriorate further.
“Iranian-supported Houthis have engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure resulting in civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions,” according to the security alert.
“The hostilities have the potential to escalate rapidly beyond that immediate area.”
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Saudi Arabia’s aviation network has been battered by the attacks, with Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport only partially reopening to domestic flights last week after being shut down following an Oct. 10 strike.
Airports in Dammam and Jeddah have also faced disruptions as Saudi authorities scramble to protect critical transportation facilities.
The State Department has maintained its Level 3 travel advisory for Saudi Arabia, urging Americans to reconsider travel because of missile and drone threats, terrorism, and the ongoing armed conflict.
American citizens remaining in the kingdom have been urged to exercise extreme caution, monitor security alerts and prepare for possible travel disruptions.
The evacuation order comes as the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel continues to destabilize the region, with Houthi militants in neighboring Yemen stepping up attacks against Saudi targets.
Other American diplomatic missions across the Gulf have also adjusted staffing and security procedures, although the mandatory departure order applies specifically to Saudi Arabia.
The escalating attacks have raised fresh concerns about the kingdom’s ability to protect its airports and energy infrastructure, both critical to regional stability and global oil markets.
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[ H/T Trending Politics ]
