OMM Newsroom
The US Embassy in Saudi Arabia warned on Sunday of escalating security threats from Yemen’s Houthis as Riyadh’s main airport partially reopened following repeated missile and drone attacks, Anadolu Agency reported.
In an updated security alert, the US mission said the State Department had ordered non-emergency government employees and their families to leave Saudi Arabia, effective Oct. 23, citing growing safety risks.
“Iranian-supported Houthis have engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure resulting in civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions,” the embassy said.
The Houthis have controlled Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and other regions since 2014. They resumed fighting with Saudi-backed government forces in July after a 2022 truce collapsed. The group has also targeted Saudi energy sites.
“The hostilities have the potential to escalate rapidly beyond that immediate area,” the US mission’s alert said. The departure order was first publicly announced on Wednesday.
Riyadh airport partially resumes flights
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh partially reopened on Sunday for domestic flights and some international services operated by Saudi carriers, the embassy said.
The mission warned Americans of possible further attacks, airspace closures and flight cancellations, and urged them to exercise extreme caution when using airports in the kingdom.
US government personnel now need special authorization to use any airport in Saudi Arabia.
Airport was hit on Oct. 10
The Houthis have renewed threats against Riyadh’s airport, saying it remained a military target despite the partial reopening.
The airport had suspended operations after a Houthi attack on Oct. 10 that killed 13 people and wounded hundreds.
Saudi Arabia also intercepted additional missiles and drones on Sunday as fighting with the Houthis continued.
