RIYADH: The United States ordered non-emergency government staff and their families to leave Saudi Arabia over security threats linked to Houthi attacks, its embassy confirmed.
The US Department of State made the departure order effective on October 23. The embassy reiterated the measure in a security alert on Friday. Washington cited missile and drone attacks on civilian airports and other important infrastructure.
The embassy warned American citizens about possible further attacks, airspace closures, flight cancellations and travel disruptions. US government employees must obtain special authorisation before using any airport in Saudi Arabia.
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh partially reopened on October 23 for domestic services and some international flights operated by national carriers.
Airports in Jeddah and Dammam were operating with delays and cancellations, according to the embassy’s security guidance.
Read: Saudi Arabia Security Alert: US Orders Some Staff to Leave
Washington continues to advise American citizens to reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia because of security risks. It separately warns against travel to the Yemen border region.
The warning follows intensified fighting between Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition supporting the Yemeni government.
Read: Saudi Arabia Says It Intercepted 12 Houthi Missiles, 2 Drones
The renewed hostilities have added another source of instability to the wider regional conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
