US State Department Orders Non-Essential Staff to Leave Saudi Arabia
· World · CBS News, Seeking Alpha, Bloomberg
The US State Department has ordered non-essential embassy personnel to depart Saudi Arabia following escalating attacks by Iran-backed Houthi militants. The US military has also reduced its footprint across Middle Eastern posts amid rising regional threats from both the Houthis and Iran. Spokesperson Tommy Pigott confirmed the mandatory departure applies exclusively to government employees and their families in Saudi Arabia, refuting rumors of broader regional evacuations. The decision follows recent drone and missile strikes targeting civilian airports and oil infrastructure, including an attack on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport that killed 12 people.
Why it matters
The diplomatic drawdown signals heightened security risks for American personnel in the Gulf region as Houthi strikes target critical civilian and energy infrastructure.
Read the original report — CBS News
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