📰 2 sources 8 articles · 21 Oct 2026, 19:27 → 22 days ago

Washington orders departure of non-essential staff and families from Saudi Arabia amid escalation of Houthi attacks

The US State Department ordered non-essential employees and their family members at its embassy in Saudi Arabia to leave, a step that coincided with an escalation of Houthi attacks on airports and facilities in the Kingdom. Washington later denied reports of evacuating its embassies in the Gulf, stressing that the decision was limited to Saudi Arabia, while the UK Ministry of Defence said it had seen Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure and airports with casualties.

📍 Where things stand: Washington stresses that the departure order is limited to Saudi Arabia and denies evacuating its Gulf embassies, while reports continue about Houthi attacks on Saudi airports and facilities and casualties.

⏱️ Timeline

21 Oct 2026, 19:27 A US State Department spokesperson told Al-Arabi TV, in response to a question about the possibility of evacuating citizens from the Middle East, that the safety and security of Americans is a priority for the Trump administration and that he does not comment on the details of security arrangements.
21 Oct 2026, 22:24 Reuters reported that the US State Department was preparing to issue an order allowing or requiring some employees and their family members at US embassies in Gulf states to depart.
21 Oct 2026, 22:42 The US State Department announced it had issued an order for non-essential employees and their family members to depart from Saudi Arabia only, without further details on the reasons or circumstances. Media reports said the decision came amid fears of an escalation in Houthi attacks.
22 Oct 2026, 03:57 Oil prices rose after the United States ordered its diplomats to leave Saudi Arabia amid rising tensions.
22 Oct 2026, 08:39 After reports and rumors circulated about the evacuation of embassies in Gulf states, US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott denied what social media sites promoted about evacuating Washington's embassies in the Gulf, explaining that the decision for non-essential employees and their family members to leave was limited to Saudi Arabia. He indicated that the decision came after the escalation by Iran-backed Houthis with attacks targeting civilian airports and vital facilities in the Kingdom, which resulted in injuries and disruption of travel, stressing that the safety of employees and their families remains a priority.
22 Oct 2026, 12:51 The UK Ministry of Defence announced that it had seen Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure and airports, noting that there were casualties.