Washington, Oct 21: The United States has ordered all embassy staff and their families to leave Saudi Arabia amid heightened security concerns following a series of attacks attributed to Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement, reported international news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP).
“All American staff and their families have been ordered to depart from the US embassy in Saudi Arabia,” the source as per the report said, adding that the families of embassy personnel in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain had also been ordered to leave.
The advisory comes as Washington raises security precautions across the Gulf region amid concerns over a possible escalation in hostilities. Reuters reported separately on Wednesday that the US State Department was preparing to order the departure of some personnel and family members from diplomatic missions in the region, citing three US officials. Two officials said the measure could extend to all personnel and their families at the US mission in Saudi Arabia.
Security concerns have intensified following attacks attributed to the Houthis, including a strike on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on October 10 that killed people and injured hundreds, according to Saudi authorities. The incident disrupted airport operations and prompted renewed security warnings from Western diplomatic missions.
The US Embassy in Riyadh issued a security alert on Wednesday warning of the possibility of further Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia. US diplomatic missions across the region have also urged American citizens to remain alert amid warnings that hostilities could spread rapidly and without notice.
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