US Embassy Staff Told to Leave Riyadh
The order, effective October 23, comes after Houthi attacks damaged airports and forced US government employees to seek special permission to fly.
By Aiko Nakamura ·
The US State Department has ordered all non-emergency government employees and their family members to depart Saudi Arabia. The directive, which took effect on October 23, was issued by the embassy in Riyadh and published on social media on Wednesday, October 28. The move instructs personnel to leave the country immediately due to heightened safety risks.
The embassy cited ongoing hostilities by Iranian-supported Houthis as the primary reason for the order. According to the statement, Houthi forces have attacked civilian airports and other critical infrastructure. These strikes have resulted in civilian casualties and caused severe disruptions to travel within the Kingdom.
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh announced a partial reopening on October 23. Only domestic flights and certain international routes operated by national carriers are currently running there. To manage capacity, a limited number of flights normally based in Riyadh are operating out of Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Qassim.
Operations at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam remain active. However, both facilities are experiencing delays and cancellations. The embassy urged US citizens using these airports to exercise extreme caution and verify flight statuses directly with airlines and airport authorities.
US government employees now require special authorization from the Chief of Mission to use any airport in the country. This new restriction follows recent missile and drone attacks on Saudi airspace. The embassy warned that the current conflict has the potential to escalate rapidly beyond the immediate areas already affected by strikes.
The security alert emphasizes that US citizens should expect potential attacks on airports, sudden airspace closures, and widespread flight cancellations. The embassy recommends checking departure status frequently given the volatile situation. The order applies specifically to non-emergency staff and their dependents, while emergency personnel remain in place.
Source: Middle East Eye
