Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia: two dead at Dammam airport, U.S. orders non-emergency staff to leave

Saudi Arabia endured another day of attacks on Wednesday as the United States ordered non-emergency government employees and their families to leave the kingdom, citing attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

According to Saudi authorities, an attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, in the east of the country, initially killed one person and injured eight others. Early Thursday, the death toll rose to two. Earlier in the day, debris from an intercepted drone targeting the Shaybah oil facility killed two people and injured two others.

Washington pulls staff

The State Department announced an ordered departure for non-essential employees, while U.S. officials told CBS News that the military has quietly reduced its presence at some posts in the Middle East because of threats from the Houthis and Iran. Central Command (CENTCOM) spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins declined to comment, saying such moves are not discussed for reasons of operational security.

In Riyadh, King Khalid International Airport partially reopened for a limited number of flights by Saudi carriers after disruptions caused by the attacks of recent days.

International support for Riyadh

French President Emmanuel Macron made an unannounced stop in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after a visit to Qatar, as a sign of support for Riyadh’s efforts against the Houthis. Days earlier, Britain had announced the deployment of Typhoon jets to defend the kingdom. The escalation in the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea is raising concern about the security of energy supplies in the region.