According to a Reuters report published on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, three US officials disclosed the preparations, with two of them indicating that the proposed departures could involve the evacuation of all personnel and their families from the US Mission to Saudi Arabia.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the matter publicly.
The planned move follows renewed security concerns over the possibility of additional attacks by the Houthis against Saudi Arabia and other locations in the region.
The US Embassy in Riyadh issued a security alert on Wednesday warning of potential further attacks by the Yemeni armed group, underscoring concerns about the safety of American diplomatic personnel and their families.
The alert followed recent deadly strikes, including reported attacks on Riyadh’s airport, which have heightened fears about the security situation in Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf region.
Although the full details of the proposed evacuation remained unclear, the preparations suggest that Washington is reviewing the safety of its diplomatic staff as tensions continue to threaten regional stability.
The Houthis are an Iran-aligned armed movement that controls significant parts of Yemen and has been involved in regional hostilities linked to the wider confrontation between Iran and its adversaries.
The group has carried out attacks and issued threats that have raised security concerns across the Middle East, particularly in countries viewed as potential targets for retaliatory strikes.
Saudi Arabia, which shares a border with Yemen, has faced security threats from the Houthis for years. Previous attacks targeting Saudi territory and critical infrastructure have prompted heightened military preparedness and security measures.
An ordered departure is a US government security measure requiring designated embassy personnel and, where applicable, their family members to leave a diplomatic post because of safety concerns.
The measure differs from a voluntary departure, under which eligible personnel or family members may choose to leave based on their assessment of the security situation.
However, it was not immediately clear whether the proposed action would apply to all American diplomatic personnel in Saudi Arabia or only specific categories of staff and their dependants. The full list of diplomatic missions potentially affected was also yet to be established.
The preparations come as Washington evaluates the risk of renewed fighting and considers measures to protect its diplomatic personnel and their families.
Any formal evacuation order could have implications for the operations of affected US diplomatic missions, depending on the number of personnel required to leave and the duration of the security restrictions.
As of Wednesday, the final scope and timing of the proposed departures remained uncertain. The situation highlights continuing concerns about the potential spread of regional hostilities and the security risks facing foreign diplomatic missions across the Gulf.
