US says it ordered non-emergency embassy staff to leave Saudi Arabia

The US embassy in Riyadh said on Wednesday that it issued a security alert instructing its non-emergency staff and their families to leave Saudi Arabia on 23 October due to safety risks amid ongoing escalation with Yemen's Houthis. "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 in a statement on X, adding that "the hostilities have the potential to escalate rapidly beyond that immediate area." It also said that US government employees now need special authorization to use any airport in Saudi Arabia following recent missile and drone attacks and urged US citizens flying in or out of the country to exercise “extreme caution”. Security Alert: U.S. Mission Saudi Arabia (October 28, 2026) Effective October 23, 2026, the Department of State ordered non-emergency U.S. government employees and U.S. government employee family members to leave Saudi Arabia due to 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 hostilities have the potential to escalate rapidly beyond that immediate area. U.S. government employees working in Saudi Arabia require special authorization from Chief of Mission to use any airport in Saudi Arabia following recent missile and UAV attacks on airports in the Kingdom. - King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh announced a partial reopening as of October 23 for domestic flights and some international flights operated by national carriers. A limited number of flights normally based at RUH are operating out of Qassim-based Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz International Airport (ELQ). - Operations at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah (JED) are operational with some delays and cancellations. - Operations at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam (DMM) are operational with some delays and cancellations. U.S. citizens should be aware of potential attacks on airports, airspace closures, flight cancellations, and travel disruptions. Please take extreme caution if you choose to use airports in Saudi Arabia. We recommend checking your flight departure status directly with the airline and with the airport. Read more: https://t.co/CW6Q4L8xmW — U.S. Embassy Riyadh (@USAinKSA) October 28, 2026