Washington requires US government employees to have special permission to use Saudi airports
Amman1 min read
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The US embassy in Riyadh announced on Monday that US government employees are now required to obtain a special US permit to use any airport in Saudi Arabia, after this measure was previously limited to three of them, amid escalating Houthi attacks on the Kingdom's airports.
A statement published by the embassy said, "US government employees working in Saudi Arabia must obtain a special permit to use any airport in the Kingdom," reminding its citizens of the need to "exercise extreme caution if you decide to use airports in Saudi Arabia."
The embassy stated that the permit is issued "by the embassy only" and for US government employees.
Last week, the embassy announced that this measure affects King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, before announcing on Sunday its expansion to include the Dammam and Jeddah airports.
This comes in light of unprecedented attacks targeting Riyadh airport claimed by the Iran-backed Houthis.
The Houthis also attacked energy facilities belonging to the Saudi state-owned Aramco company, as well as the East-West pipeline, which has become vital for Saudi oil exports after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the war in the Middle East.
