Saudi Arabia: US orders non-essential government employees and families to leave security risks The US State Department has ordered non-essential government employees and their families to leave Saudi Arabia as of October 23, citing missile launches and drone attacks on airports and critical infrastructure, which the alert attributes to the Iran-backed Houthis. Riyadh International Airport is only partially operational, flight delays and cancellations are being reported at Jeddah and Dammam airports, and US government employees need special permission to use Saudi airports.