US orders non emergency diplomatic staff to leave Saudi Arabia

The United States Department of State has ordered non-emergency government staff and their families to leave Saudi Arabia as Houthi attacks intensify across the country. According to reports from the New York Post, the BBC, ABC News Australia, and The Guardian, the mandatory departure order comes amid escalation in hostilities from Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott confirmed that the mandatory evacuation applies only to Saudi Arabia, pushing back on reports of broader withdrawals. [1][2][3][4]

Recent strikes targeted civilian infrastructure and energy sites in Saudi Arabia. The BBC, ABC News Australia, and The Guardian reported that at least three people died in strikes at an airport and an oil field on Wednesday evening. ABC News Australia, Al Jazeera, and the Wall Street Journal reported that an attack at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam killed one person and injured eight others, while a drone strike on an oil field killed two people. [2][3][4][9][10]

The United States State Department stated that the Houthis have increasingly engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, causing civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions. The agency warned that the situation could escalate rapidly. As FTMQ News reported earlier, Saudi Arabia recently postponed its flagship investment summit following aerial attacks that targeted the capital city of Riyadh and coastal energy infrastructure. [1][2][3][16]

The New York Post reported that President Trump is weighing direct military action against the Houthis in response to the escalating conflict. The South China Morning Post noted that the State Department also plans to withdraw family members from several other US missions across the region. [1][5]