The United States has issued an order for the evacuation of some diplomats and their family members from Saudi Arabia. This decision comes in response to the escalation of Houthi attacks on Saudi facilities and airports, reflecting security concerns in the region.
Houthi Attacks and Airport Status
On Wednesday, an attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam resulted in one death and eight injuries. Saudi officials stated that the extent of the material damage to the airport is being assessed, but did not specify who was responsible for the attack. The Houthis have also not claimed responsibility for this attack.
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The Saudi Arabian Civil Aviation Authority announced that flight operations from Dammam Airport have been halted due to this attack, and flights are being redirected to other airports. On the same day, the Saudi Ministry of Energy also announced that forces successfully intercepted a drone targeting an oil facility, but debris from the drone resulted in two deaths and two injuries.
U.S. Order and Reactions
Tami Piggott, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, announced that the country has ordered the departure of non-essential staff and their family members from the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh. She also referred to the increase in hostilities, particularly Houthi attacks on airports and critical infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, which have led to civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions.
According to news sources, a similar order has been issued for other Gulf countries, but Piggott dismissed this claim as inaccurate and emphasized that only personnel in Saudi Arabia should leave the country. With rising tensions in the region and frequent Houthi attacks, this is not the first time the U.S. has issued such orders.
This year, several similar orders have been given to evacuate American personnel from the region. The four-year war between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis has intensified due to ongoing conflicts in Iran, and Saudi Arabia has faced daily attacks this month.
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