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U.S. Orders Americans Out as Houthis Strike Riyadh

By Drooid · Oct 26, 2026, 10:34 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

U.S. Embassy issues alert

The U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia issued a security alert urging Americans to leave the kingdom.
The State Department ordered non-emergency government employees and families to depart Saudi Arabia effective Oct 23.
U.S. personnel now need special authorization to use any Saudi airport, including King Khalid International.
The embassy warned that Iranian-backed Houthis could quickly expand attacks, causing airspace closures and airport danger.

Summary

Houthi rebels attack

Houthi rebels said they attacked Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline and Riyadh airport.
Spokesman Yahya Saree said a missile hit the airport and Saudi forces intercepted it.
Saudi Civil Defense issued a danger alert for Riyadh after detecting the missile threat.
Officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan planned a Tehran meeting with Iran on Oct 26, the first.

History

Historical Context

In the 1991 Gulf War Iraq launched 46 Scud missiles at Saudi Arabia, killing 28 U.S. soldiers in Dhahran on 25 February. The pattern of missile threats to Saudi infrastructure reappeared when Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who held about 300 Scuds in 2015 and have fired over 170 ballistic missiles since, targeted the East-West pipeline and Riyadh airport in 2024, prompting renewed U.S. travel restrictions.

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U.S. Embassy issues alert

The U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia issued a security alert urging Americans to leave the kingdom.
The State Department ordered non-emergency government employees and families to depart Saudi Arabia effective Oct 23.
U.S. personnel now need special authorization to use any Saudi airport, including King Khalid International.
The embassy warned that Iranian-backed Houthis could quickly expand attacks, causing airspace closures and airport danger.

1 / 3