US orders diplomats and families out of Middle East posts as escalation fears grow

The United States is rushing to move some diplomats and their family members from posts across the Middle East as fears of regional escalation grow, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter (CNN).

The State Department has issued an ordered departure for non-emergency US government employees and their family members in Saudi Arabia. Spokesman Tommy Pigott said on X: “Iranian-supported Houthis have increasingly engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure resulting in civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions” (CNN).

At the same time, staffing caps are being quietly adjusted at embassies in Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Lebanon, sources told CNN. A State Department official confirmed that Lebanon, the UAE, Qatar and Jordan “will see temporary changes to staffing levels under restricted operations”, while stressing there were no personnel changes in Kuwait or Bahrain.

Nikki Gamer, spokesperson for the American Foreign Service Association, told CNN: “This echoes the chaos families experienced earlier this year. Some had barely settled back in before being told to leave again.” She added they were “understandably upset, confused, and angry.”

The moves come as Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia intensify, as a third US aircraft carrier and about 10,000 military personnel head to the region, and as Donald Trump has suggested strikes on Iran could resume after the midterms (The Times).

Sources

• https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/23/politics/us-moves-diplomats-middle-east-escalation-fears?cid=external-feeds_iluminar_meta
• https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/21/politics/us-orders-departure-embassy-staff-saudi-arabia?cid=external-feeds_iluminar_meta
• https://www.thetimes.com/us/news-today/article/us-diplomat-saudi-arabia-embassy-troops-withdraw-076mfxjw2