The [U.S. State Department](https://www.state.gov/) announced on Wednesday that all non‑essential embassy employees and their dependents must leave Saudi Arabia as Houthi‑launched strikes intensify across the kingdom. The directive, issued on 21 October 2026, aims to safeguard American personnel amid a series of deadly attacks.
**Why did Washington issue the evacuation order?**
The department’s spokesperson, Tommy Pigott, confirmed the move on X, stating that “the safety and security of Department personnel and their families remain our highest priority.” He clarified that the order applies solely to non‑emergency staff stationed in [Saudi Arabia](https://www.gov.sa/), not to diplomatic or security officials who remain on duty.
**Which other Gulf states received similar warnings?**
A diplomatic source told AFP that families of U.S. embassy workers were also told to depart the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain, nations that have faced Iranian‑linked attacks during the broader Middle East conflict.
**What is the scale of the Houthi threat?**
The Iran‑backed [Houthis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houthi_movement) have been conducting near‑daily strikes on Saudi soil since early October, including a missile hit on Riyadh’s international airport that officials described as the deadliest in years. On the same day, the [Saudi Ministry of Energy](https://www.meim.gov.sa/) reported that debris from a downed drone targeting an oil facility near the Shaybah field killed two workers—a Filipino and a Nepali—and injured two others.
**How did Saudi forces respond to the drone attack?**
Saudi air defenses intercepted the unmanned aircraft, but falling fragments caused the casualties. The ministry’s statement did not identify the drone’s origin, though earlier the Saudi‑led coalition in Yemen said it had shot down six hostile drones.
**What background fuels the current escalation?**
The four‑year cease‑fire that had held in Yemen’s civil war collapsed in June, reviving fighting that began in 2014. The Saudi‑backed coalition has supported the internationally recognised Yemeni government since 2015, while the Houthis continue to target Saudi infrastructure as part of their campaign.
**Has the United States ordered similar evacuations before?**
Yes. Washington previously asked non‑essential staff to leave the Gulf ahead of the 2023 conflict with Iran and again in July 2024 after President Donald Trump halted a new wave of strikes.
**What recent developments occurred in Iran’s Hormozgan province?**
Iranian state media reported explosions in the Karpan area of Sirik, Hormozgan, overlooking the Strait of Hormuz. The IRNA agency said local sources had not yet clarified the cause of the blasts. The strait, a vital chokepoint, carries roughly 20 % of global oil shipments, and Iran has threatened to block passage as part of its broader retaliation against U.S. and Israeli actions.
The situation remains fluid, and the United States continues to monitor security conditions for its diplomatic community across the region.