The US has ordered non-essential embassy staff to leave Saudi Arabia as Iran retaliates for attacks, with regional tensions escalating.
WASHINGTON: The United States has ordered non-emergency government staff and their families to leave Saudi Arabia due to heightened safety risks.
The State Department issued the mandatory departure order on Sunday, upgrading a previous advisory that only permitted non-essential personnel to leave.
It continues to advise US citizens to reconsider travel to the kingdom, which remains a key US ally in the Gulf region.
The move follows a series of drone attacks on US diplomatic missions across the region last week.
Drones struck the US embassy in the Saudi capital Riyadh, as well as embassies in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
On Sunday, Saudi Arabia reported that a projectile landing in Al Kharj province killed two people and wounded twelve.
Iran has vowed retaliation for a massive US and Israeli attack on February 28 that killed the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologised to neighbouring countries for recent attacks on Saturday.
He later stated Iran would be “forced to respond” if those states are used to launch attacks against it.
President Donald Trump has warned he is prepared for weeks more of war.
Gulf Arab kingdoms, including Bahrain and Qatar, are closely allied with the US and host key American military bases.
