The US State Department has ordered nonessential personnel at its embassy in Riyadh and affiliated consulates, along with their family members, to leave Saudi Arabia following a series of attacks on the kingdom.
In a statement, the State Department said Yemen’s Houthi movement had carried out attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, including civilian airports and other critical infrastructure, resulting in civilian casualties and major travel disruptions.
The department warned that hostilities could escalate rapidly and spread beyond the areas currently experiencing conflict.
The US Embassy in Riyadh sustained significant damage at the beginning of the war with Iran and operated for months with a severely reduced staff before some diplomats returned in recent months.
Separately, ABC News reported on Wednesday that Washington was withdrawing forces from military bases in Jordan, Qatar, and Kuwait, alongside a reduction in its diplomatic presence across the region.
Clashes between the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthi movement have intensified since early October, following the coalition’s announcement of a large-scale operation targeting the group’s capabilities. The escalation has coincided with Houthi missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi airports and facilities.
