US Embassy orders non-emergency staff to leave Saudi Arabia citing airport security risks

The US Embassy in Riyadh has ordered the departure of non-emergency government employees and their families from Saudi Arabia, citing elevated safety risks and persistent hostilities from Iranian-backed Houthi forces. The order, which became effective on 23 October, follows a series of missile and drone strikes targeting civilian airports and critical infrastructure within the Kingdom. According to a security alert issued on Tuesday, 27 October, the US State Department confirmed that the security situation remains volatile. Recent attacks have resulted in civilian casualties and significant disruptions to the national transport network. Consequently, all US government personnel now require specific authorisation from the Chief of Mission before using any airport in Saudi Arabia. Airport Operations and Restrictions Flight operations across the Kingdom face varying levels of disruption. King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh partially reopened on 23 October, though services are currently limited to domestic routes and selected international flights operated by national carriers. To manage the overflow, a small number of Riyadh-based flights have been diverted to Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Qassim. Major hubs including King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam remain operational. However, the embassy noted that travellers should expect frequent delays and short-notice cancellations as authorities…