The United States has ordered non-emergency government employees and their family members to leave its mission in Saudi Arabia amid growing security concerns over attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement.
The US State Department said the Houthis had stepped up hostilities against Saudi Arabia, targeting civilian airports and other critical infrastructure and causing casualties and major travel disruptions.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott disclosed the decision in a social media post on Wednesday, stressing that the safety of American personnel and their families remained a priority.
He added that Washington would continue to take necessary measures to protect its staff and provide support amid the worsening security situation.
Pigott also dismissed an earlier media report suggesting that the US planned to withdraw some personnel and family members from its embassies across the Gulf, describing the report as inaccurate.
However, four US officials told Reuters that American diplomatic missions in other Gulf countries were also expected to order family members to leave, indicating that the security measures could extend beyond Saudi Arabia.
The latest move comes amid renewed fighting in Yemen, adding another dimension to the regional conflict that escalated following the US-Israeli war against Iran, which began in late February.
The conflict has disrupted global energy trade and placed additional pressure on Gulf economies.
The US Embassy in Riyadh issued a security alert on Wednesday, warning of the possibility of further Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia following recent deadly strikes, including attacks on the kingdom’s airport.
Earlier in March, drones also targeted the US Embassy in Riyadh and a Central Intelligence Agency station located within the diplomatic compound as Iran launched attacks across the region.
The withdrawal of non-emergency personnel follows the return of some US diplomatic staff to the region in recent months, after many were evacuated when Tehran began striking American facilities in response to the US-Israeli military campaign.
