US to order departure of embassy staff from Gulf countries, officials say

The US State Department is reportedly preparing to issue an order for the departure of some personnel and family members from US embassies across the Gulf region, three US officials told Reuters on Wednesday. According to two of the officials, the move has resulted from a possible resumption of hostilities, particularly with Houthi fighters in Yemen. This includes ordering all US embassy staff and their families to leave Saudi Arabia, a diplomatic source told AFP on Wednesday. "All American staff and their families have been ordered to depart from the US embassy in Saudi Arabia," the source said, adding that embassy staff families were also ordered to leave the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar, and Bahrain.