US Diplomats Ordered to Leave Saudi Arabia Immediately

Washington — American diplomats stationed in Saudi Arabia have been ordered to leave the country, according to a report by the New York Times.

Citing multiple sources, the report published on Saturday indicated that this measure signals that the US State Department recognises that risks in the Middle East are escalating significantly.

The report notes that since the US-Israeli military operation against Iran on 28 February, the department has for the first time ordered its diplomats to undertake a “mandatory departure” from Saudi Arabia. Mandatory departure represents the highest level of evacuation.

According to the report, the order applies not only to US government personnel in the capital, Riyadh, but also in Jeddah and Dhahran, two cities where US consulates are located.

Previously, American diplomats had criticised the Trump administration for delaying preparations for the evacuation of American citizens from the Middle East.

The delay occurred after weeks of US military deployment to the region and after the US government had threatened Iran with open warfare.

On 28 February, the US and Israel attacked several targets in Iran, including the capital Tehran, causing damage and killing civilians. Iran subsequently launched retaliatory strikes against Israel and US military facilities in the Middle East.