The US Embassy in Saudi Arabia renewed its warning Friday about possible attacks on airports, airspace closures and canceled flights amid Houthi attacks.
The October 30 alert urged US citizens to exercise extreme caution when using Saudi airports. Reuters reported that US government employees need special authorization to use them following missile and drone attacks.
The departure order discussed in Friday's warning took effect October 23. It covers non-emergency US government employees and their family members. The State Department's current Saudi Arabia advisory lists the country at Level 3, Reconsider Travel, and identifies the Yemen border region as Level 4, Do Not Travel. The staff departure directive is not an evacuation order for every American in Saudi Arabia.
Anadolu's October 30 report, citing the embassy, said Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport had partially reopened and airports in Jeddah and Dammam were operating with some delays and cancellations. Those are Friday's reported conditions, not a guarantee that a particular Saturday flight will operate.
Travelers should check their flight's status directly with both the airline and airport before setting out. An operating airport can still have disrupted services; the warning concerns possible further attacks as well as cancellations and airspace restrictions.
The State Department also advises Americans to have an emergency departure plan that does not depend on US government help. Its advisory warns against photographing, filming or sharing information about missile or drone interceptions and impact sites, saying Saudi authorities have detained Americans for taking photographs.
Americans in the country can enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive embassy alerts. US Embassy Riyadh lists +966-11-835-4000 for both its main telephone and after-hours emergencies.
