US Orders Non-Emergency Staff to Evacuate Saudi Arabia Amid Escalating Houthi Strikes
The United States has ordered all non-emergency government employees and their families to depart Saudi Arabia due to heightened safety risks from intensified Houthi attacks. This directive, issued on October 23, follows a series of strikes on civilian infrastructure, including a deadly assault on Riyadh’s international airport on October 10 that killed at least 13 people. The Houthis, an Iran-aligned group, have targeted airports, hospitals, and the presidential palace in Aden, aiming to control the Bab el-Mandeb strait and disrupt Red Sea trade. While the US has not committed to direct military intervention, the escalation has forced temporary airport closures and heightened regional security alerts, marking a new front in the broader conflict involving Iran.
Key points
- US embassy in Riyadh ordered non-emergency staff and families to leave on October 23 due to safety risks from Houthi attacks.
- Houthis struck Aden airport and the Maashiq presidential palace complex with ballistic missiles, following a deadly attack on Riyadh’s airport on October 10.
- The October 10 strike killed at least 13 people and injured hundreds, marking the deadliest attack in Saudi Arabia in over a decade.
- US citizens are warned of potential further attacks, airspace closures, and flight cancellations, requiring special authorization to use Saudi airports.
- Houthis aim to control the Bab el-Mandeb strait and Red Sea to raise oil prices and pressure Washington, while Trump has avoided committing to military strikes against them.
Background
This escalation follows earlier US withdrawals of non-essential staff from Saudi Arabia and quiet reductions in diplomatic staffing across the Gulf in late October. Egypt had previously sought parliamentary approval to defend Saudi Arabia amid the same Houthi surge, while major events like WWE Crown Jewel in Riyadh were relocated due to security concerns. The current crisis represents a significant intensification of the conflict, linking regional stability to broader US-Iran tensions.
Why it matters
The US evacuation order signals a serious deterioration in security for the region, potentially disrupting global energy and trade routes through the Red Sea. The Houthi offensive, aimed at controlling key maritime chokepoints, could force the US to reconsider its stance on direct military intervention, with implications for oil prices and broader geopolitical stability in the Middle East.
What to watch
The US is weighing direct military action against the Houthis and potential strikes on Iran after the November 3 midterms. Analysts suggest US intervention may be necessary to break the Houthi grip on the Red Sea, while Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states monitor the situation for further escalations or diplomatic resolutions.
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