U.S. Withdraws Non-Emergency Staff and Families from Saudi Arabia After Attacks

The Estados Unidos government has ordered diplomatic officials and their families to leave Saudi Arabia. The move, announced on Wednesday, came after Yemen’s Houthis advanced against Saudi territory.

The information was released by Casa Branca spokesman Tommy Pigott, who came to the public to question a Reuters report about a possible withdrawal of diplomats from U.S. embassies scattered throughout the Persian Gulf countries.

Order valid only for Saudi Arabia

“The U.S. State Department has issued a departure order for non-emergency U.S. government officials and their families in Saudi Arabia only,” Pigott said.

In a security alert issued by the Embassy of the Estados Unidos in Riyadh on Wednesday, the US government warned that the situation in the country could “escalate rapidly”. The diplomatic mission gave instructions to officials who wished to leave Saudi territory.

Who are the Houthis and their origin

Created in the 1990s, the Houthis are a political-religious movement composed mostly of followers of Zaidism, one of the three strands of Shia Islam.

The group has controlled parts of Yemen since 2014, after starting an offensive against the country’s then-government, starting a 14-year civil war.

In 2015, Saudi Arabia created a military coalition to support the internationally recognized Yemeni government. From there, Houthis positions began to be bombed in Yemen.

Breaking Truce and Recent Escalation

The Saudi military alliance and the Houthis fought until 2022, when the United Nations brokered a ceasefire in Yemen.

In the second half of 2026, the truce between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia was broken, and the two sides resumed hostilities. At the same time, the organization expanded its control in northern Yemen, and now dominates virtually every access of the country to the Red Sea.

In July this year, Saudi Arabia was attacked by the Houthis after years of relative peace in the region.

Attacks and military response

The offensive began after the group, which has controlled parts of Yemen since 2014, accused Riyadh of bombing Sanaa International Airport in the Yemeni capital. In addition, the organization also imposed a sea blockade against Saudi vessels in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

With this, the international military coalition led by Saudi Arabia went on to attack Houthis positions in Yemen. The operations, however, did not cause the group to retreat. Instead, the Houthis have been launching missiles and drones into Saudi territory almost daily.

In addition, the organization has expanded its control in Yemen and now dominates the coast that connects the country to the Red Sea.

Military pact and troop deployment

Saudi Arabia has signed a military pact with Pakistan and Turkey, which provides for mutual defense if one of the three countries is attacked — a formula similar to that adopted by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

In recent weeks, the Pakistani and Turkish governments have begun sending military personnel to the territory of Saudi Arabia, with the aim of defending the kingdom.

The Houthis receive support from Iran and defend the cause of Palestine. Therefore, the organization began attacks on ships connected to Israel in the Red Sea after the beginning of the war in the Gaza Strip. They also launched drones and missiles into Israeli territory.

The Estados Unidos and the UK came to attack Houthis positions in Yemen between 2024 and 2025 in response to the group’s actions in the region.

The withdrawal of American officials from Saudi Arabia signals the seriousness of the situation and the fear that the conflict will intensify further. The Boca no Trombone portal continues to follow the developments of this crisis in the Oriente Médio.

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