US orders diplomats to leave Saudi Arabia after Houthi strikes

The US State Department has ordered non-emergency government employees and their family members to depart Saudi Arabia, citing escalating Houthi attacks on civilian targets. This move follows recent strikes that killed at least three people in the country. The order comes after attacks killed one person and injured eight at Dammam's airport, and two more died in a drone strike on an oil field. Spokesperson Tommy Pigott stated the Iran-aligned Houthis have increasingly engaged in hostilities, causing civilian casualties and travel disruptions. US officials also indicated family members would be withdrawn from other Gulf missions. The withdrawals mark a reversal after Washington had returned some diplomatic personnel to the region in recent months. The escalation opens another front in the regional conflict triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran, which has disrupted global energy trade and hurt Gulf economies.