US orders some diplomats to leave Saudi Arabia

The United States has officially ordered non-emergency diplomatic staff serving in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and their family members to leave the country immediately because of rising security risks.

Operative Information Center-OMM reports that Washington cited escalating threats by Yemen’s Houthi group against Saudi territory and regional facilities as the main reason for the evacuation decision.

A formal statement issued by the U.S. Department of State said that the Iran-backed Houthis had increased what it described as destructive and hostile military activity toward Saudi Arabia:

“Drone and missile attacks carried out by the Houthi group have caused civilian casualties, damage to infrastructure and serious disruption to international maritime and air transport,” the statement said.

The U.S. foreign affairs department also addressed claims circulating in international media. The State Department formally denied reports that the U.S. administration had ordered diplomatic staff to leave all Arab countries in the Persian Gulf.

The evacuation order applies only to non-essential diplomatic personnel in Saudi Arabia and their family members, it said.

As military and political tensions have intensified in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East, ensuring the security of foreign diplomatic missions has become a key concern for major powers.