US evacuates some diplomats from Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks
Photo: The US is evacuating some of its diplomats from Saudi Arabia due to Houthi attacks (Getty Images)
The US State Department has ordered some staff members and their family members to leave Saudi Arabia due to attacks by Yemeni Houthis. Diplomatic families may subsequently be evacuated from other Gulf countries as well, according to Reuters.
The order applies to employees who are not performing critical duties and their family members. According to Pigott, the decision applies only to Saudi Arabia.
However, four US officials told Reuters that US diplomatic missions in other Gulf countries will also send employees' families home. The State Department spokesperson does not mention other countries.
"Iranian-supported Houthis have increasingly engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure resulting in civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions," Pigott explains.
The US Embassy in Riyadh warned on Wednesday of possible new Houthi attacks. Before this, strikes on Saudi Arabia, including the capital's airport, had resulted in fatalities.
The escalation in Yemen has opened yet another front in the regional conflict that began in late February with the US and Israel's war against Iran. At that time, Tehran attacked US facilities in the region, and most diplomats were evacuated. The embassy in Riyadh and the CIA station located there were struck by drones in early March.
The Houthis launched several consecutive attacks on Saudi Arabia's main airport. On October 10, a strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed 12 people and injured another 309. Flights were diverted, and the airport was shut down.
The next day, the Houthis attacked the airport again: an unidentified projectile struck the terminal, causing a fire that killed one person and injured 11 others.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Iran assisted the Houthis in these attacks. Tehran provided them with intelligence and helped them target oil tankers, energy facilities, and airports in Saudi Arabia with missiles and drones.
