Middle East — 2026-10-22

US Orders Embassy Staff and Families to Leave Saudi Arabia Amid Escalating Houthi Attacks

BLUFWashington is shrinking its diplomatic footprint in Saudi Arabia faster than it is expanding military support to Riyadh, signaling a posture gap that Gulf partners will pressure the administration to close.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said on X that the department ordered departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees and their families in Saudi Arabia only, citing Houthi attacks on civilian airports and infrastructure 12. An AFP diplomatic source said families were also being withdrawn from the UAE, Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain 3, while CBS News reported other embassies adjusted staffing under "restricted operations," not ordered departure 2. On Wednesday Saudi Arabia reported intercepting at least seven drones; debris from one aimed at Shaybah oil field killed two expatriate workers 13, and Saudi aviation officials reported one killed and eight wounded at Dammam airport 3. CNN reported that Trump has so far declined to strike the Houthis despite Saudi requests for more offensive support 1, and the UK said it will deploy fighter jets to defend Saudi Arabia 1.

Analysis
Washington is thinning its Saudi presence while declining the offensive support Riyadh requests, so the diplomatic footprint shrinks faster than the military commitment grows. We assess this with high confidence, based on on-record statements from the department spokesman limiting the order to Saudi Arabia and consistent reporting from CNN and CBS News that other posts moved only to restricted operations. Houthi targeting has shifted from oil facilities in September to civilian airports, and a Saudi requirement that U.S. staff obtain special authorization for airport use will restrict official movement and consular services. It is unlikely that the State Department orders departure of non-emergency personnel and families from at least one additional Gulf country (UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman or Jordan) between October 23 and November 12. The drawdown may instead prepare for U.S. strikes on the Houthis or a wider Iran confrontation, in which case other Gulf posts would follow quickly. If a second country goes on ordered departure, airlines, corporate security teams and Gulf-based contractors should begin evacuations and cut flight schedules. If none does, they can keep operating under restricted operations and watch for Houthi targeting beyond Saudi territory.

4 sources