US State Department orders departure for embassy staff in Saudi Arabia only

US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott says the US has “issued an ordered departure for non-emergency US government employees and their family members in Saudi Arabia only”.

In a post on X, Pigott said the “Houthis have increasingly engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure resulting in civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions”.

Earlier, the AFP news agency reported that US embassy staff and families were ordered to leave Saudi Arabia as well as the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain. Reuters also reported staff and relatives would leave from “across the Gulf”.