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# US orders some diplomats out of Saudi Arabia after deadly attacks
- URL: https://www.bushletter.com/us-orders-some-diplomats-out-of-saudi-arabia/
- Published: 2026-10-22T04:30:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-22T04:29:59.000Z
- Description: Australia now warns against all travel to Saudi Arabia, where major airport disruption has prompted advice to consider road or rail instead of flying.
- Author: Bushletter Newsroom
- Tags: News, World

TLDR

The US has ordered some diplomats and staff families out of Saudi Arabia, citing Houthi attacks on airports and critical infrastructure. Attacks on Wednesday killed three people. Australia's Smartraveller now tells Australians not to travel to Saudi Arabia.

## Washington orders staff out

The US State Department has ordered some diplomats and the families of US government employees to leave Saudi Arabia.[\[1\]](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/22/us-diplomats-told-to-leave-saudi-arabia-amid-houthi-attacks?ref=bushletter.com) The order covers the embassy in Riyadh and its consulates.[\[1\]](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/22/us-diplomats-told-to-leave-saudi-arabia-amid-houthi-attacks?ref=bushletter.com)

The department cited Houthi attacks on "civilian airports and other critical infrastructure". "The safety and security of department personnel and their families remain our highest priority," spokesperson Tommy Pigott said.[\[1\]](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/22/us-diplomats-told-to-leave-saudi-arabia-amid-houthi-attacks?ref=bushletter.com)

Some media reported that families of US embassy staff were also leaving the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain. Pigott called those reports "inaccurate" and said the order applied to Saudi Arabia only.[\[1\]](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/22/us-diplomats-told-to-leave-saudi-arabia-amid-houthi-attacks?ref=bushletter.com)

## Deadly strikes on an airport and an oil site

Saudi Arabia faces near-daily attacks.[\[1\]](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/22/us-diplomats-told-to-leave-saudi-arabia-amid-houthi-attacks?ref=bushletter.com) On Wednesday evening, one Saudi resident was killed and eight people were injured in attacks on King Fahad International Airport in Dammam, the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority said.[\[1\]](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/22/us-diplomats-told-to-leave-saudi-arabia-amid-houthi-attacks?ref=bushletter.com)

Debris from an intercepted drone that targeted an oil facility in the south-east killed two more people, the energy ministry said. Neither attack was immediately claimed by the Houthis.[\[1\]](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/22/us-diplomats-told-to-leave-saudi-arabia-amid-houthi-attacks?ref=bushletter.com)

## Britain sends fighter jets

Britain will fly RAF Typhoon jets on defensive missions to protect Saudi cities and infrastructure, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said. The jets will not strike the Houthis.[\[3\]](https://aapnews.aap.com.au/news/uk-to-carry-out-defensive-air-patrols-over-saudi-arabia?ref=bushletter.com)

"The continuing attacks from the Houthis on our ally Saudi Arabia are absolutely despicable," Streeting said.[\[3\]](https://aapnews.aap.com.au/news/uk-to-carry-out-defensive-air-patrols-over-saudi-arabia?ref=bushletter.com)

## What it means for Australians

Smartraveller raised its advice for Saudi Arabia to "Do not travel", its highest level, on 19 October.[\[2\]](https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/middle-east/saudi-arabia?ref=bushletter.com) It tells Australians to postpone any planned travel, including for religious purposes.[\[2\]](https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/middle-east/saudi-arabia?ref=bushletter.com)

It advises against travel to King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and says air travel is significantly disrupted at all major airports. Australians who do travel are told to consider car, train and bus routes, including to aviation hubs in the UAE and Qatar.[\[2\]](https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/middle-east/saudi-arabia?ref=bushletter.com)

## Fears of a wider war

The New York Times reported the Trump administration was developing plans to restart the war on Iran after the US midterm elections. Trump has publicly said he does not intend to restart the war before the 3 November elections.[\[1\]](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/22/us-diplomats-told-to-leave-saudi-arabia-amid-houthi-attacks?ref=bushletter.com)

KEY TAKEAWAYS

01The order covers the US embassy in Riyadh and its consulates.

02The State Department cited Houthi attacks on civilian airports and critical infrastructure.

03Attacks on Wednesday at Dammam's airport and an oil facility killed three people.

04Britain will fly RAF Typhoons on defensive missions over Saudi Arabia.

05Smartraveller raised Saudi Arabia to 'Do not travel' on 19 October.

SOURCES & CITATIONS

1. [Some US diplomats told to leave Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/22/us-diplomats-told-to-leave-saudi-arabia-amid-houthi-attacks?ref=bushletter.com)
2. [UK to carry out defensive air patrols over Saudi Arabia, AAP](https://aapnews.aap.com.au/news/uk-to-carry-out-defensive-air-patrols-over-saudi-arabia?ref=bushletter.com)
3. [Saudi Arabia travel advice, Smartraveller](https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/middle-east/saudi-arabia?ref=bushletter.com)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Which US missions are affected?

The US embassy in Riyadh and its consulates. The State Department said the order applies to Saudi Arabia only.

What is Australia's travel advice for Saudi Arabia?

Smartraveller rates Saudi Arabia 'Do not travel', its highest level, and tells Australians to postpone planned travel, including for religious purposes.

Who is attacking Saudi Arabia?

The State Department blamed Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis. Airports and oil facilities have been a major target of the group's recent strikes, though Wednesday's attacks were not immediately claimed.