U.S. Pulls Diplomats from Saudi Amid Houthi Attacks on Airports
U.S. evacuates diplomats from Saudi Arabia after Houthi attacks on airports and infrastructure.
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The U.S. State Department has ordered non-emergency diplomatic staff and their families to leave Saudi Arabia due to escalating Houthi attacks on civilian targets, including airports and critical infrastructure. The Iran-backed Houthis have intensified their campaign against Saudi Arabia, launching a series of drone and missile strikes that have caused casualties and disrupted travel.
Houthi Strikes Target Airports and Infrastructure
On Wednesday night, the Houthis struck King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, killing two and injuring eight. The attack marks the latest in a string of strikes against Saudi civilian airports. Dammam, located about ten miles from Aramco’s headquarters in Dhahran, has been under threat as well. Last week, a missile attack damaged the Aramco building, though the facility remained operational, with some staff continuing to work on-site.
Aramco sources confirmed that all remaining employees at the Dhahran headquarters have been told to work from home. The company’s sprawling complex, which includes residential areas, remains largely unaffected, though no formal evacuations have been ordered for those areas.
Saudi Military Reports Intercepts Near Holy Cities
Saudi military officials reported intercepting four Houthi drones near the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. This follows previous outrage from the Muslim world after the Houthis threatened Mecca with a drone in September, though no concrete action has been taken against them.
U.S. Denies Wider Evacuations, Warns of Houthi Threat
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott confirmed the evacuation order for non-emergency staff but denied reports of similar actions in other Middle Eastern countries. He highlighted the Houthis’ growing hostility, which has led to civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions.
Economic Fallout from Houthi Attacks
The Houthi attacks have had a significant impact on financial markets. Aramco’s stock dropped 0.7 percent, while the Saudi National Bank lost 5.1 percent, and the Saudi benchmark index fell 2.3 percent—its largest loss in over two years. The UAE also experienced market declines, with main indexes in Dubai and Abu Dhabi falling by 0.7 percent each.
Analysts Warn of Global Threat from Nonstate Actors
Farea al-Muslimi, a Chatham House research fellow, noted that Saudi Arabia struggles to defend its vast territory against Houthi attacks, which pose a significant threat despite their small size. He emphasized that such nonstate actors can impose high costs with minimal resources, highlighting a global challenge for even advanced militaries.
Source: Breitbart
