US orders diplomats and families to leave Saudi Arabia

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 22:02 · Archive

The US State Department has ordered non-essential diplomats and their families to leave Saudi Arabia amid escalating Houthi attacks.

The US State Department has ordered the departure of non-essential staff at the US Embassy in Riyadh and its satellite consulates, following a series of deadly attacks in Saudi Arabia by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

The State Department said in a travel alert that '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'. The department warned that 'the hostilities have the potential to escalate rapidly beyond that immediate area'.

The Houthis have routinely targeted Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, which was closed from 10 October following a severe attack. The airport partially reopened on Wednesday with limited Saudi airline operations, although major carriers including Lufthansa and Air France have cancelled flights to Riyadh through mid-November. The Houthis have acknowledged attacking the airport.

The US embassy had been badly damaged at the start of the Iran war and had been operating with only skeleton staff for months, although some diplomats had returned in recent months. US government personnel require special permission to use any Saudi airport.

How it is being reported

• US orders some diplomats to leave Saudi Arabia as fears of escalating Houthi attacks riseThe State Department is ordering some diplomats and the families of U.S. government employees to leave Saudi Arabia.Clickorlando · 21 Oct, 21:31
• US orders some diplomats to leave Saudi Arabia as fears of escalating Houthi attacks riseThe State Department is ordering some diplomats and the families of U.S. government employees to leave Saudi Arabia.News4Jax · 21 Oct, 21:31

In this story: United States · Saudi Arabia · Yemen · Houthis · Iran · Riyadh

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