US orders non-emergency staff to leave Saudi Arabia over security risks

FILE PHOTO: Large plume of black smoke rises from the fuel storage area at King Khalid International Airport, in Riyadh — Stringer Oct 30 (Reuters) - 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 authorisation 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. (Reporting by Enas Alashray and Ahmed Tolba;Editing by Ros Russell) This one's on us. The story doesn't end here. Our correspondents are already on the next chapter. Read everything they file, from $2/week. See Offers