- The US State Department has ordered non-emergency diplomats and their families to evacuate Saudi Arabia following a surge in deadly attacks by Iran-aligned Houthi rebels.
- American military forces are also being withdrawn from bases across the Middle East, including Jordan, Qatar and Kuwait, due to ongoing regional threats.
- The moves follow recent Houthi strikes in Saudi Arabia, which killed at least two people at Dammam civilian airport and two others in a drone attack on an oil field.
- The military drawdown comes as Donald Trump considers launching fresh strikes against Iran's energy and nuclear infrastructure following the US midterm elections.
- The escalation of fighting in Yemen has opened another front in the wider regional conflict, causing severe disruptions to global energy trade.
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