RismadarVoice Reporters
October 21, 2026
The United States Government has ordered non-essential diplomatic personnel and their families to leave Saudi Arabia following escalating drone and missile attacks linked to Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
The directive, announced on Wednesday by the US Department of State, reflects growing security concerns as attacks on airports, energy facilities and other critical infrastructure threaten lives and disrupt transportation across the kingdom.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott confirmed that the mandatory departure order applied to non-emergency American government employees and their family members stationed in Saudi Arabia.
He said the decision was taken to protect diplomatic personnel amid increasing hostilities involving the Iran-aligned Houthi movement.
The US Embassy in Riyadh also issued a security alert warning of possible further attacks following recent strikes on strategic facilities.
Although diplomatic sources indicated that family members of American personnel in other Middle Eastern countries could face similar evacuation measures, Washington’s publicly confirmed order specifically covered Saudi Arabia.
The development followed another deadly security incident on Wednesday when Saudi authorities intercepted a drone targeting the Shaybah oil field, operated by state-owned energy company Saudi Aramco.
According to the Saudi Ministry of Energy, falling debris from the intercepted drone struck a contractor’s vehicle, causing a fire that killed two foreign workers and injured two others.
The deceased were identified as Filipino and Nepali nationals, while the injured workers were from Pakistan and India.
Saudi authorities said the incident did not disrupt operations at the oil facility. The ministry did not identify those responsible for launching the drone.
The latest attack comes amid renewed fighting between Houthi forces and the Saudi-backed government in Yemen.
The Houthis have intensified attacks against Saudi infrastructure, including airports, as regional tensions continue to rise.
Washington’s decision also comes against the backdrop of the wider conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which began with military strikes against Iran in February 2026.
The confrontation has heightened concerns about security across the Gulf, including the safety of diplomatic missions and international energy supplies.
Meanwhile, Iranian state media reported explosions in the southern province of Hormozgan on Wednesday night.
The explosions were reportedly heard in the Karpan area of Sirik, near the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
However, Iranian authorities had not immediately established the cause of the explosions or confirmed whether they were linked to military operations.
The latest developments underline the continuing security challenges facing the Middle East as diplomatic missions, civilian infrastructure and energy facilities remain exposed to the consequences of regional hostilities.
