The US State Department issued an updated security advisory, ordering its non-essential government personnel and their families in Saudi Arabia to leave the country immediately.
The decision was made in light of the ongoing direct war between Iran and the United States and the potential for retaliatory attacks on Saudi Arabia.
The US had previously allowed personnel to leave the country “voluntarily” on March 3, but this has now been changed to an “Ordered Departure”. US citizens are strongly advised to leave Saudi Arabia immediately on available commercial flights. The embassy says that the situation could deteriorate rapidly and that flights may be cancelled.
The US embassy in Riyadh and the consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran have suspended all routine services and instructed staff to “shelter in place”. Iran has threatened to target Gulf countries hosting US military bases after the killing of its Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
A drone strike near the US embassy in Riyadh last week and a projectile landing in Al-Kharj province on Sunday, killing two people, have further heightened security concerns.
President Donald Trump’s statements and the arrival of a new leadership in Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei, have raised the serious possibility of a prolonged war that could spread across the region. Citizens who wish to leave the country or seek assistance are advised to fill out the Embassy’s “Crisis Intake Form” immediately.
Airports in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam are currently open, but there is a possibility of flight delays or sudden cancellations. Those who cannot leave immediately are advised to stock up on food, water, and medicine and stay in safe locations away from windows.
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