US ordered the departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees from Saudi Arabia

The State Department has ordered non-emergency U.S. government employees and their family members to leave Saudi Arabia amid a sharp rise in attacks blamed on Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The decision underscores growing concern about the security environment in the kingdom as hostilities in the region escalate. The department has also warned of the risk of further attacks in Saudi Arabia.

The departure order affects some American diplomatic personnel and families stationed in Saudi Arabia, but it does not amount to a full evacuation of the U.S. mission there. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a post on X that the order applied only to non-emergency U.S. government employees and their family members in Saudi Arabia. Reuters also reported that Washington is planning similar moves at some other U.S. missions across the Gulf.

Saudi Arabia has remained a focal point of regional tension for months. The State Department’s travel advisory for the country says attacks have targeted cities, infrastructure, airports, military bases, diplomatic facilities and energy sites, and it specifically notes that Iran-backed Houthi rebels have threatened to attack Saudi Arabia again. The advisory was updated in October and continues to warn U.S. citizens about the risk of drone and missile strikes.

Escalating attacks and shifting U.S. posture

The latest drawdown follows a series of deadly strikes in Saudi Arabia and comes as officials fear the conflict could widen further. AP reported that the order was issued after recent attacks in the kingdom and that the attempted strike was part of a renewed surge in fighting that resumed in mid-July. Reuters said the embassy in Riyadh also issued a security alert warning of possible further Houthi attacks.

The move also fits a broader pattern of U.S. staffing adjustments in the Middle East during periods of heightened unrest. Earlier this year, the State Department ordered nonessential staff and family members to leave Saudi Arabia and other posts in the region amid concerns about Iranian retaliation. This week’s order suggests that Washington remains cautious even as it manages its diplomatic footprint in the Gulf.

Officials have not publicly said how long the departure order will remain in effect or whether additional restrictions will follow. For now, the U.S. presence in Saudi Arabia appears to be operating under tighter security conditions as the threat environment continues to evolve.