US State Department orders non-emergency staff and families to leave Saudi Arabia
In short
The US State Department has ordered non-emergency US government employees and their family members to leave Saudi Arabia, spokesman Tommy Pigott said on X. Russian outlets link the order to a series of Houthi attacks. Pigott called reports of similar orders for other Gulf embassies "inaccurate".
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The US State Department has ordered non-emergency US government employees and their family members to leave Saudi Arabia, according to department spokesman Tommy Pigott. Interfax, RBC and Kommersant all reported his post on X. He wrote that the department "issued an order for the departure of US government employees and their family members not involved in emergency situations, from Saudi Arabia only". [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Interfax reported that the order followed a series of Houthi attacks. Pigott said the Houthis are increasingly engaged in fighting against Saudi Arabia, which is causing civilian casualties and serious disruption to movement. He added that the protection of department staff and their families remains the department's highest priority and that it will keep taking all necessary steps to protect and support them. [ 1 ]
Some media had reported earlier that embassy staff and family members were told to leave Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain. Pigott called reports that the orders cover staff of other US embassies in the Gulf "inaccurate", according to Interfax and Kommersant. [ 1 , 3 ]
Kommersant added background. It said that in September the Yemeni movement Ansar Allah, known as the Houthis, took control of Yemen's west coast and of islands in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. It said the Houthis also attack Saudi facilities over Riyadh's support for Yemen's internationally recognised government. It also cited CBS News on US authorities and personnel from Middle East bases, but the sentence in the text is incomplete. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The order shows how the US State Department is responding to the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, according to Russian business outlets. The documents do not say how long the order will last or what else may follow.
Key facts
- The US State Department issued an order for the departure of US government employees not involved in emergency work, and their family members, from Saudi Arabia only. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Spokesman Tommy Pigott announced the order on X. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Interfax reported the order came after a series of Houthi attacks. [ 1 ]
- Pigott called reports that the orders also cover US embassy staff elsewhere in the Gulf "inaccurate". [ 1 , 3 ]
- Pigott said the Houthis are increasingly engaged in fighting against Saudi Arabia, causing civilian casualties and serious disruption to movement. [ 1 ]
- Earlier media reports said embassy staff and families were told to leave Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The State Department ordered the departure of non-emergency US government employees and their family members from Saudi Arabia only, according to spokesman Tommy Pigott. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Pigott described media reports of similar orders for US embassies in other Gulf countries as "inaccurate". [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether US embassy staff in the UAE, Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain were also ordered to leave. Some media reported this, while Pigott called those reports inaccurate.
- How many people are affected and how long the order lasts. None of the documents gives numbers or a duration.
- Whether US military personnel at bases in the Middle East are affected. Kommersant cites CBS News on this point, but the sentence in the document is incomplete.