US orders embassy staff and families out of Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks

Ordered departure from Saudi Arabia

The US embassy in Riyadh has ordered all American embassy personnel and their families to leave Saudi Arabia, according to a diplomatic source cited by AFP on Wednesday, 21 October 2026. Families of embassy staff at US missions in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain have also been told to depart. Reuters had earlier reported, citing three US government officials, that preparations were under way, and two of them named fear of a resumption of fighting, particularly with the Houthis in Yemen, as the reason. Two officials told Reuters the step could extend to all staff in the kingdom and their families, but it was unclear which other missions would be affected. No public confirmation from the State Department was available at the time.

Houthi strikes on the kingdom

Saudi Arabia has faced almost daily missile and drone attacks from the pro-Iranian Houthi movement in Yemen since the start of October. On 10 October, an attack on the international airport in Riyadh killed 13 people and injured more than 300 others. The US Mission's security alert describes attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure that have caused civilian casualties and severe travel disruption. Operations at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh remain suspended, while King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam are operating with some delays and cancellations.

Travel restrictions and the security warning

Earlier in October, Washington required US government employees in Saudi Arabia to obtain special authorization before using any airport in the kingdom. The security alert, dated 21 October 2026, said:

“U.S. government employees working in Saudi Arabia require special authorization from Chief of Mission to use any airport in Saudi Arabia.”

The same alert warns of potential attacks on airports, airspace closures and flight cancellations. The US embassy in Riyadh also issued a further security warning on Wednesday over possible Houthi attacks. US travel guidance for Saudi Arabia already cautions about falling debris from intercepted missiles and drones.

What the order means

Under State Department rules, an ordered departure is mandatory for the staff and family members it covers, but it does not automatically mean that an embassy will close. The preparations alone do not show that Washington has decided on a new military attack. The officials who spoke to Reuters pointed to the danger of further fighting, and it remained open whether the United States itself would take part or whether an Israeli strike could be involved. The AFP source also said that US allies in the region had been hit several times by Iranian fire at the height of the US-Iranian hostilities.