In brief
The US State Department has told some diplomats and families to leave Saudi Arabia after a sharp rise in Houthi attacks. Three people were killed in recent strikes, including at an oil field and a major airport. The Houthis, backed by Iran, have targeted Saudi airfields and energy sites as retaliation for a blockade. Washington warns the situation could further destabilise the region.
US orders diplomats to leave Saudi Arabia after Houthi attacks rise
The State Department has told some US government staff and their families to exit Saudi Arabia, citing an escalation of attacks in the region.
Three people were killed recently in strikes on an oil field, a big airport in Dammam, and other locations. Two of those were taken down by a drone that was intercepted over an oil field. The latest hit on the King Fahd International Airport left several injured.
The tension comes as Yemen’s Iran‑backed Houthis have stepped up missile and drone attacks on Saudi infrastructure. In July they launched a maritime embargo in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, sparking a spike in oil prices.
Washington warns that hostilities can quickly get out of hand. The U.S. asks its personnel to avoid non‑essential activities in the country as the situation remains volatile.
The conflict started in 2014 when the Houthis seized Yemen’s capital and later drew in a Saudi‑led coalition. A four‑year ceasefire ended in July when the Houthis resumed attacks on airfields and oil facilities.
