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The US Embassy in Riyadh announced on Sunday that the State Department has ordered non-emergency US government employees and their families to leave Saudi Arabia due to security risks, in light of the ongoing Houthi attacks on the Kingdom.
In a security alert posted on its account on the American platform "X", the embassy stated that the departure order went into effect as of last Friday.
It explained that the Iran-backed Houthis have carried out attacks against Saudi Arabia, targeting civilian airports and other vital infrastructure, resulting in civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions.
The embassy warned that hostilities could escalate rapidly and extend to areas beyond the scope of current attacks.
It added that US government employees working in Saudi Arabia require special permission from the Chief of Mission to use any airport within the Kingdom, following recent missile and drone attacks.
Regarding air traffic, the embassy announced that King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh resumed partial operations on Sunday for domestic flights and some international flights operated by national carriers.
It noted that a limited number of flights that usually depart from Riyadh airport are being operated via Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz International Airport in the Qassim region.
According to the alert, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam continue their operations, with delays and cancellations of some flights being recorded.
The embassy called on US citizens to exercise extreme caution when using Saudi airports, warning of the possibility of new attacks, airspace closures, flight cancellations, and travel disruptions.
It also recommended that they verify the status of their flights directly with airlines and airports before heading to them.
These measures come in light of a Houthi escalation against Saudi Arabia since July 2026, which intensified during this October with missile and drone attacks targeting airports, oil facilities, and military sites in the Kingdom.
On October 4, the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council announced the start of a comprehensive military operation named "Dawn of Yemen" against the Houthis, with the support of the Saudi-led coalition.
Since March 2015, Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition to support the internationally recognized Yemeni government against the Houthis, who have controlled the capital, Sanaa, and other governorates since September 2014.
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