The United States State Department has directed non-essential diplomatic staff and their families to evacuate missions in Saudi Arabia, with similar withdrawals planned for other Gulf region posts following a wave of fatal strikes, according to US officials speaking to Reuters.
The withdrawals come after attacks in Saudi Arabia killed at least three people and injured eight others. One person was killed and eight injured in an attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, while two others died in a drone attack targeting a facility at Saudi Aramco’s Shaybah oilfield.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the department had ordered the departure of “non-emergency US government employees and their family members in Saudi Arabia only,” citing attacks by Iran-aligned Houthi forces on civilian targets in the country.
Pigott said the Houthis had increasingly engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including attacks on civilian airports and critical infrastructure, resulting in civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions.
Four US officials told Reuters that American missions in other Gulf states would also order family members to leave. However, Pigott did not comment on possible changes to diplomatic missions outside Saudi Arabia.
The latest withdrawals follow an escalation of fighting in Yemen, opening another front in the wider regional conflict triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran, which began in late February. The conflict has disrupted global energy trade and affected Gulf economies.
Earlier on Wednesday, Saudi Arabia’s energy ministry said two people were killed after the country’s air defences intercepted a drone attempting to strike a facility at the Shaybah oilfield. The civil aviation authority later reported the attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, which left one person dead and eight injured.
The US Embassy in Riyadh had issued a security alert warning of possible further Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia following recent deadly strikes, including an attack on Riyadh’s airport.
The embassy and a CIA station operating from the facility were also targeted by drones in early March, as Iran launched attacks across the region.
What You Should Know
Amid escalating regional conflicts linked to wider geopolitical tensions, the United States has taken precautionary measures by ordering the withdrawal of diplomatic family members and non-emergency personnel from Saudi Arabia and parts of the Gulf region.
- Potential Concerns: The ongoing attacks and subsequent diplomatic pullouts signal a worsening security situation, which could further disrupt global energy markets, cause travel bottlenecks, and increase economic instability in the Gulf.
- Broader Implications: This development highlights the widening scope of regional hostilities, prompting international missions to prioritize staff safety as civilian infrastructure increasingly becomes a target.
