US tells diplomats 'to evacuate Saudi Arabia' over Houthis rebel fears

US tells diplomats 'to evacuate Saudi Arabia' over Houthis rebel fears Saudi Arabia has been a target of the Houthis due to its support for Yemen's government forces in the country's civil war - a 2022 truce between the two sided collapsed after the outbreak of the US-Iran conflict American diplomats and their families have been advised to evacuate Saudi Arabia after the country has been the target of several attacks by a rebel force. Concerns have grown over a rise in incidents by the Iran-backed Houthis, who are based in neighbouring Yemen. The advice comes after the group fired missiles at the presidential palace in Yemen last week, killing four and wounding ten. In the days before, several attacks were carried out on Riyadh's King Khalid international airport in Saudi. Seventeen people lost their lives and 300 more were injured. The US embassy in Riyadh issued a security alert on Wednesday about possible further attacks. The state department has reportedly been preparing to order diplomats to leave embassies across Gulf states, three US officials told Reuters. A spokesman said "non-emergency US government employees and their families" have been ordered to leave "Saudi Arabia only". "The safety and security of Department personnel and their families remain our highest priority, and we will continue to take all necessary steps to protect and support them," he added. Saudi Arabia has been a target of the Houthis due to its support for Yemen's government forces in the country's civil war. Conflict reignited in July after a 2022 truce collapsed following the outbreak of the US-Iran war in earlier this year. US and Israel carried out joint strikes on several key Iranian site in February. Iran retaliated by attacking US allies across the region, closing the Strait of Hormuz waterway and choking the global supply route. The Houthis used the conflict as an opportunity to seize stretches of the Red Sea coast last month, an alternative route to the Strait of Hormuz, ramping up fighting with Saudi Arabia. Washington returned some personnel to the region after some were removed when Tehran launched retaliatory attacks. However, security alerts swept across the Middle East on Sunday, warning US citizens that fighting with the Houthis could spread beyond the its current borders. Embassies in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and several other countries issued coordinated warnings, according to ABC News.