Red Alert - Evacuation Order Racks White House
The State Department has ordered non-emergency U.S. government employees and their families to leave Saudi Arabia after a wave of deadly attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure heightened fears of a wider regional conflict.
The order covers U.S. missions in Saudi Arabia, including the embassy in Riyadh and consulates. U.S. officials told Reuters that family members at some other Gulf missions may also be withdrawn, but the department said the formal ordered departure applies to Saudi Arabia only. Spokesman Tommy Pigott cited Houthi attacks on civilian targets, which have caused casualties and severe travel disruptions. The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh warned that hostilities could “escalate rapidly” beyond the areas already affected.
The decision followed attacks Wednesday on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and Saudi Aramco’s Shaybah oil field. Saudi aviation authorities reported that two people were killed and eight injured at the airport. At Shaybah, Saudi officials said debris from an intercepted drone killed two workers and injured two others. The energy ministry identified the dead as Filipino and Nepali nationals; it did not publicly identify who launched the drone.
The latest violence adds to earlier strikes on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and Saudi energy facilities. Limited flights have resumed at the Riyadh airport, but international carriers continue to suspend service on varying schedules. Reuters reported Lufthansa cancellations through November 18 and Air France-KLM suspensions to Riyadh through November 7.
Saudi Aramco has told employees to evacuate its Dhahran headquarters and work remotely, according to people familiar with the move. Reuters reported that the building was damaged in an earlier strike this month, when fires spread across several floors. The company’s complex supports operations overseeing oil fields, refineries, export terminals and pipelines.
The threat to Saudi infrastructure has also jolted energy markets. Brent crude rose about 4% Thursday and settled at $113.17 a barrel, its highest close since May 4. U.S. West Texas Intermediate settled at $99.47. Traders were weighing the risk of further supply disruptions, including threats to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Saudi Arabia has responded with strikes on missile-launch sites in Yemen and says its defenses have intercepted missiles and drones. Britain announced that RAF Typhoon fighters will fly defensive missions to help protect Saudi cities and critical infrastructure. Egypt has also signaled it could assist if asked, with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi seeking parliamentary authorization for possible military support.
Washington has not joined Saudi Arabia’s campaign against the Houthis. The departure order is a significant precaution for U.S. personnel in a key American partner’s territory, and follows earlier reductions in diplomatic staffing during the broader regional conflict.
The move underscores the stakes of protecting American personnel as attacks threaten civilian life, vital energy infrastructure and the stability of global oil markets.