Saudi Arabia in Houthi crisis: USA withdraws diplomats from Gulf region

taz/afp/ap/dpa According to information from diplomatic circles, the US government has called on employees of the US embassy in the Saudi capital Riyadh to leave the country in view of the ongoing attacks by the pro-Iranian Houthi militia. The AFP news agency learned from diplomatic circles that the family members of the US embassy staff had also been ordered to leave the kingdom. Accordingly, the families of employees of the US embassies in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain were also asked to leave the country.

According to authorities, one person was killed in attacks on King Fahd Airport in the important oil city of Dammam in eastern Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Civil Aviation Authority said the fatality was a resident of the kingdom. Eight other people were injured and taken to a hospital. There was also damage to the airport.

The Riyadh-led military coalition said it had intercepted four drone strikes in the country's eastern region. Two people were killed in an attack on a Saudi oil facility on Wednesday.

The spokesman linked the move to attacks by Iran-backed Yemeni Houthis against Saudi Arabia. The safety and protection of ministry employees and their families “remains our top priority,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron surprisingly traveled to the Saudi capital Riyadh during his Middle East trip. The Saudi crown prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman received the French president, the state news agency SPA said.

The Elysée Palace said that France had agreed with Saudi Arabia to extend additional diesel deliveries. The additional quantities should be delivered for as long as necessary. No further details were given.

Since the beginning of the month, Saudi Arabia has been subjected to almost daily attacks by the pro-Iranian militia with missiles and drones. An attack on Riyadh's international airport on October 10 killed 13 people and injured more than 300 others.

Because of the uncertain situation, the royal family also canceled its “Future Investment Initiative” conference, which was actually planned for next week. The forum of the de facto ruling Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman al-Saud, known under the pseudonym “Davos in the Desert”, is the most important economic conference in the entire oil-rich Gulf region. It is usually attended by the heads of the most important global corporations, banks and investment companies, as well as heads of state.