State Department Orders Non-Emergency Staff Out of Saudi Arabia
The directive takes effect October 23, citing Houthi attacks on civilian airports and critical infrastructure that have disrupted regional air travel.
By Emmanuel Faure ·
The Department of State ordered all non-emergency US government employees and their family members to depart Saudi Arabia as of October 23. The directive places the US mission into a reduced operational status while the administration assesses the security environment.
The order follows a series of missile and drone strikes attributed to Yemen’s Houthis. The embassy stated that these groups, which it described as Iranian-supported, have targeted civilian airports and other critical infrastructure. The attacks resulted in civilian casualties and created severe disruptions to travel routes across the region.
In a statement posted to X on October 28, the US embassy in Riyadh detailed the specific risks facing personnel. The notice indicated that hostilities have the potential to escalate rapidly beyond the immediate area of conflict. The embassy warned that US citizens flying to or from the country should exercise extreme caution.
The security alert introduced new administrative hurdles for government staff. Employees now require special authorization from the Chief of Mission to use any airport in Saudi Arabia. This requirement was implemented in direct response to recent missile and unmanned aerial vehicle attacks on key aviation hubs.
Ground operations have been altered at the three major international airports in the Kingdom. King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh began a partial reopening on October 23. It now handles domestic flights and select international services operated by national carriers. A limited number of flights that normally depart from Riyadh are instead operating out of Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Qassim.
King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam remain operational. Both facilities are experiencing delays and cancellations due to the ongoing situation. The embassy advised travelers to check departure status directly with their airlines and local airports.
The situation reflects a tightening of safety protocols at the US diplomatic mission. The embassy continues to monitor the airspace and ground infrastructure for further incidents. Staff remain in place to manage emergency functions while non-essential personnel complete their departures.
Source: Middle East Eye
