The U.S. State Department has ordered non-emergency government employees and their family members to depart Saudi Arabia. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said on Wednesday that the mandatory evacuation follows an increase in hostilities by Iran-aligned Houthi militants against the kingdom. The U.S. military is also reducing its personnel footprint at various posts across the Middle East due to regional threats from the Houthis and direct threats from Iran.
This decision follows recent Houthi drone and missile strikes targeting Saudi civilian airports and oil facilities. An attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport earlier this month resulted in 12 deaths, including one American, and more than 300 injuries. Additionally, Saudi air defenses blocked a drone attack at the Shaybah oil field on Tuesday, where falling debris killed two people and injured two others. The Saudi-led military coalition also reported intercepting multiple Houthi drones on Monday and Tuesday.
While the State Department confirmed the ordered departure is limited to Saudi Arabia, four U.S. officials told Reuters that missions in other Gulf states may also order family members to leave. Currently, several other U.S. embassies in the region have moved to "restricted operations" status, which allows for reduced staffing and services without a full suspension of activities. This status was introduced in August during an escalation in a conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran, which began in late February.
The withdrawal of staff reflects the risk to civilian infrastructure and global energy markets. Hostilities near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a primary maritime chokepoint for global oil, have increased as the Houthis expand their territorial control in Yemen. The reduction of the U.S. military footprint alongside diplomatic departures follows ongoing hostilities involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran since February.
What happens next depends on potential U.S. military responses and international assistance. Ambassador Marwan Ali Noman, an adviser to the Yemeni Foreign Minister, stated on Tuesday that the Yemeni government is seeking international help to confront the Houthis. President Trump has not ruled out military strikes against the group, stating "we may" in response to the Oct. 10 airport attack. While the United Kingdom has offered defensive air support to Saudi Arabia, specific dates for U.S. military action or the return of diplomatic staff have not been established.