US orders non-emergency government staff to leave Saudi Arabia after Houthi attacks

WASHINGTON — The US State Department on Wednesday, 21 October, ordered non-emergency US government personnel and their family members to leave Saudi Arabia, citing a rise in attacks by the Houthi group, Indonesian news agency Antara reported.

Everything in this report comes from Antara, which published its account on 22 October. Zenga News has not independently confirmed the details.

The order and the clarification

According to Antara, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said on the social media platform X that the order applies only to Saudi Arabia. He said it does not cover other countries in the Middle East.

"This order applies only to Saudi Arabia, not to other countries in the Middle East region." — Tommy Pigott, State Department spokesperson, as quoted by Antara in Indonesian and translated here

Antara reported that the decision followed an increase in Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. It said the attacks included strikes aimed at civilian airports and other key infrastructure. The US official, as cited by Antara, said the attacks caused civilian casualties and severe disruption to travel.

Embassy security alert

Antara said that, according to media reports, the US Embassy in Riyadh issued a security alert on Wednesday. The alert reportedly warned that further attacks were possible. Antara did not name the outlets that carried those reports, and it did not give the text of the alert.

Existing travel advisory

The agency said Saudi Arabia is currently under a Level 3 US travel advisory. That level urges US citizens to reconsider travel because of several risks. Antara listed those risks as drone and missile attacks, armed conflict and terrorism.

Antara's report carried a photograph taken on Saturday, 19 September 2026, showing thick smoke rising near King Khalid International Airport, northeast of Riyadh. The caption credited Xinhua. The report did not say what caused the smoke. It also did not say whether the photograph related to the attacks the State Department described.

What is not known

The Antara report leaves several points unanswered. It does not say how many US government employees or family members are affected. It does not give a deadline for departure. It does not specify which airports or infrastructure were attacked, or how many civilians were killed or injured, or when those casualties occurred.

The report also contains no response from the Houthis. It carries no comment from the Saudi government. It does not say whether the US will take further steps, such as moving to a higher travel advisory level.

Background

Under the US system cited by Antara, a Level 3 advisory asks travellers to reconsider travel. The report said Saudi Arabia already carried that rating before Wednesday's order, because of the risk of drone and missile strikes, armed conflict and terrorism.

The order described by Antara is a step beyond the advisory. It concerns US government staff rather than private travellers. It also applies only to personnel who are not classed as emergency staff, according to the report. Antara did not explain how the State Department defines that category, and it did not say which embassy or consular functions will continue.

Antara's report was written by Xinhua and edited by Imam Budilaksono.