The United States ordered non-emergency government employees and their family members to leave Saudi Arabia effective October 23 due to safety risks, the US embassy in Riyadh said on Friday, citing Houthi attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure.
US government employees require special authorization to use Saudi airports following recent missile and drone attacks, the embassy said, warning US citizens of potential further attacks, airspace closures, flight cancellations and other travel disruptions.
The fighting between Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition backing Yemen's government has intensified in recent weeks, opening a volatile new front in the wider US-Israeli war on Iran.
Yemen government forces say Houthis attack Aden airport and presidential palace
Yemen's government armed forces spokesperson said that the Houthis attacked Aden airport and the Maashiq presidential palace complex with ballistic missiles.
The statement did not give details on any casualties, damage, or whether the missiles hit their intended targets.
The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen also said it had intercepted and destroyed a drone launched by the Houthis over Saudi Arabia's Medina region, home to one of Islam's holiest sites and visited by millions of Muslim pilgrims each year.