U.S. Orders Departure of Embassy Staff and Families from Saudi Arabia

The State Department issued the order on Wednesday, 21 October 2026. It applied to non‑emergency staff and their families at the U.S. mission in Riyadh. The order was issued because Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia had increased. The spokesperson was Tommy Pigott.

Pigott said the Houthis, who are supported by Iran, had engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia. He added that the attacks included civilian airports and other critical infrastructure. He said the safety of U.S. personnel remained a priority. The statement was posted in a social media post.

The order followed attacks that killed one person and injured eight at Dammam airport. A drone strike on an oil field killed two people. Saudi officials said debris from a drone interception killed a Filipino and a Nepali. The attacks were part of the broader Yemen conflict that began in 2014.

Four U.S. officials told Reuters that other Gulf missions would also order families to leave. The U.S. had previously withdrawn personnel from the Gulf after Iranian attacks in February 2026. The decision follows a pattern of U.S. withdrawals after regional escalations.