📰 1 source 3 articles · 21 Oct 2026, 19:27 → 2 hours ago

US State Department orders departure of non-essential staff and family members from Saudi Arabia

Reports addressed arrangements concerning the US diplomatic presence in the region, starting with a State Department spokesperson's remarks on the priority of Americans' safety, then information that the department was preparing an order allowing or requiring some employees and family members at embassies in Gulf states to leave, before the department officially announced an order for non-essential employees and their family members to depart from Saudi Arabia only.

📍 Where things stand: The US State Department announced it issued an order for non-essential employees and their family members to depart from Saudi Arabia only, without further details on the reasons or circumstances.

⏱️ Timeline

21 Oct 2026, 19:27 The US State Department spokesperson told "Al-Arabi TV," commenting on the possibility of evacuating citizens from the Middle East, that the safety and security of Americans is among the priorities of the Trump administration, and that he does not comment on the details of security arrangements.
21 Oct 2026, 22:24 Reuters reported that the US State Department was preparing to issue an order allowing or requiring some employees and their family members at US embassies in Gulf states to depart, in a step related to managing the US diplomatic presence in the region.
21 Oct 2026, 22:42 The US State Department announced that it issued an order for non-essential employees and their family members to depart from Saudi Arabia only, without mentioning additional details about the reasons or circumstances.

Timeline written by AI from the sources below; updated as new reports arrive.

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📅 2026-10-21

lebanon debate 22:42

US State Department: We issued an order for the departure of non-essential employees and their family members from Saudi Arabia only

The US State Department announced that it issued an order for the departure of non-essential employees and their family members from Saudi Arabia only, without providing additional…

lebanon debate 22:24

Reuters: US State Department preparing to order departure of some staff and family members from embassies in the Gulf

Reuters reported that the US State Department is preparing to issue an order allowing or requiring some staff and their family members at US embassies in Gulf countries to depart, …

lebanon debate 19:27

US State Department Spokesperson: Safety and Security of Americans Are Priorities for Trump Administration

The US State Department spokesperson told Al-Arabi TV, commenting on the possibility of evacuating citizens from the Middle East, that the safety and security of Americans are amon…