U.S. Orders Partial Diplomatic Withdrawal Following Deadly Houthi Strikes in Saudi Arabia

The United States State Department has issued an order for certain diplomatic personnel and their families to depart Saudi Arabia. This directive follows a surge in hostile drone and missile strikes attributed to the Iran-backed Houthi militia, which have increasingly targeted critical infrastructure and civilian aviation hubs within the kingdom.

On Wednesday evening, a violent strike hit the King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, located in the country's oil-rich Eastern Province. Saudi authorities confirmed that the attack resulted in two fatalities, identifying the victims as a Saudi national and an Indian resident. Additionally, eight other individuals sustained injuries ranging from minor to serious, though officials noted that the facility resumed normal operations by Thursday.

This incident occurred alongside a separate assault on the Shaybah oil field, where intercepted drone debris reportedly caused two more deaths. These events are part of a broader, intensifying campaign by the Houthi movement against Saudi targets. According to government reports, at least 21 people have been killed in various strikes on Saudi airports since the beginning of October, including a devastating attack on Riyadh’s international airport earlier this month that resulted in significant casualties.

The U.S. government's decision to reduce its diplomatic footprint reflects growing concerns over the safety of personnel amid the persistent threat of aerial bombardment. While the State Department has focused the departure order on non-emergency staff and their dependents, the move underscores the heightened security risks currently facing the region. As the conflict between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government continues to escalate, international observers remain wary of further disruptions to regional stability.