US orders some embassy staff and families out of Saudi Arabia over Houthi attacks
In short
US State Department spokesperson Pigott said on 21 October that some staff at the US embassy in Saudi Arabia and their families have been ordered to leave. He cited continued attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis on Saudi airports and key facilities, civilian casualties and transport disruption.
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US State Department spokesperson Pigott said on the 21st, on X, that some staff at the US embassy in Saudi Arabia and their families have been ordered to leave. Nikkei and Sankei, both relaying a Kyodo report, said the reasons given were continued attacks by the Iran-aligned Yemeni armed group the Houthis on Saudi airports and key facilities, civilian casualties and transport disruption. [ 1 , 4 ]
TBS NEWS DIG described the order differently, saying it covers government staff other than emergency response personnel, and their families. It reported Pigott as saying the order applies to Saudi Arabia only, and that the safety of staff and families is the top priority and the US would take all necessary measures. TBS NEWS DIG also said many people have died in Houthi attacks on international airports and other sites in Saudi Arabia. [ 2 ]
Sankei said Saudi Arabia has been bombing the Houthis in coordination with the Yemeni interim government, while the Houthis have attacked airports in Riyadh and elsewhere as well as oil-related facilities, and fighting on both sides has intensified. [ 4 ]
According to Saudi state news agency, air defences on the 21st intercepted a drone aimed at an Aramco-related facility in the east of the country, but two people died. The Yemeni interim government said the same day that the Houthis hit the airports in Aden and Mukalla in southern Yemen with ballistic missiles. The Houthis claimed they were targeting military equipment that Saudi Arabia had brought into Mukalla airport. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
The order shows Washington judging the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia to be a risk to its own personnel there. The documents say fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis has intensified.
Key facts
- State Department spokesperson Pigott said on the 21st, on X, that an ordered departure had been issued for some staff at the US embassy in Saudi Arabia and their families. [ 1 , 4 ]
- TBS NEWS DIG reported the order covers government staff other than emergency response personnel and their families, and that Saudi Arabia is the only country covered. [ 2 ]
- The stated reasons are continued Houthi attacks on Saudi airports and key facilities, civilian casualties and transport disruption. [ 1 , 4 ]
- Pigott said the safety of staff and families is the top priority and that the US would take all necessary measures, according to TBS NEWS DIG. [ 2 ]
- Saudi state news agency said a drone aimed at an Aramco-related facility in the east of the country was intercepted by air defences on the 21st, but two people died. [ 4 ]
- The Yemeni interim government said the Houthis attacked airports in Aden and Mukalla with ballistic missiles on the 21st. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Exactly which staff are covered by the order. Nikkei and Sankei describe some embassy staff and families; TBS NEWS DIG says government staff other than emergency response personnel.
- The number of dead from Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia. TBS NEWS DIG says many people died in attacks on airports and other sites; Nikkei and Sankei speak only of civilian casualties, and no document gives a total.
- The circumstances of the two deaths linked to the intercepted drone. Sankei, citing Saudi state news agency, says the drone was intercepted but two people died; the documents do not say how.
- The Houthi claim that they targeted military equipment Saudi Arabia delivered to Mukalla airport. This is the Houthis' own claim as reported by Sankei; the Yemeni interim government described the incident as an attack on the airport.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Nikkei published its report on the departure order. [ 1 ]
- TBS NEWS DIG published its report. [ 2 ]
- Nishi-Nippon Shimbun published a headline report. [ 3 ]
- Sankei published a report with details of the fighting. [ 4 ]
- Sankei published a further headline report quoting "casualties and disruption". [ 5 ]