U.S. orders nonessential embassy staff to leave Saudi Arabia

 The US State Department said it ordered “non-emergency U.S. government employees and U.S. government employee family members” to leave Saudi Arabia.

“On March 8, 2026, the Department of State ordered non-emergency U.S. government employees and U.S. government employee family members to leave Saudi Arabia due to safety risks,” the U.S. government said in its travel advisory for Saudi Arabia.

The U.S. State Department has advised U.S. citizens to reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia due to safety risks amid Iranian strikes.

The U.S. and Israel launched what they described as a pre-emptive strike against Iran on February 28, claiming that Tehran was developing a nuclear weapon and posing a threat—an allegation Iran has denied. In response, Iran launched counterattacks, firing missiles and drones at Israel, as well as at U.S. assets and other targets across the Middle East.