The United States State Department has directed a reduction in diplomatic personnel stationed in Saudi Arabia, ordering some diplomats and their families to depart the country. The directive follows a series of attacks attributed to Houthi forces based in Yemen, which have resulted in at least three fatalities at civilian locations including an airport and an oilfield facility.
The drawdown affects staff at the US Embassy in Riyadh as well as several satellite consulate offices throughout the country. State Department Spokesperson Tommy Pigott indicated that protecting the safety of American personnel remained the primary concern driving the decision. The embassy had previously sustained significant damage and had been operating with minimal staffing for an extended period, though additional diplomats had recently returned to the post.
Saudi Arabia has experienced a pattern of attacks from Iranian-backed Houthi forces in recent weeks, with notable incidents including strikes on major airports. On Thursday, two individuals were killed in overnight attacks on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, with eight others injured and airport infrastructure sustaining damage. Flight diversions were subsequently implemented. The same day, falling debris from intercepted drone strikes targeting an oil facility in the southeastern region of the country resulted in two deaths and two additional injuries, according to Saudi energy ministry officials.
The Houthis announced responsibility for multiple operations targeting Saudi military and energy infrastructure on Thursday. These included strikes directed at the defense ministry in Riyadh, Saudi Aramco facilities in Yanbu, and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. Essential workers at Saudi Aramco’s headquarters were evacuated following the announcement, after non-essential personnel had transitioned to remote work arrangements.
Initially, some media outlets reported that family members of US personnel were also being withdrawn from the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar, and Bahrain. However, State Department officials subsequently characterized these reports as inaccurate, clarifying that the departure order applied solely to Saudi Arabia. The personnel reduction coincides with reports that the Trump administration is developing plans related to potential military operations against Iran.
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