(Bloomberg) — The State Department has ordered American officials and diplomats in Saudi Arabia to leave the country amid the war with Iran, the New York Times reported, citing current and former American officials.
This measure represents the first time that the agency has approved an “orderly exit” since the first attacks in Iran on February 28.
Non-essential US government employees and their families stationed in diplomatic posts in the region had the option to leave voluntarily, but have now been ordered to do so.
The mandatory evacuation of the US Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, follows multiple Iranian attacks on the diplomatic complex and adjacent areas. On Tuesday, the embassy suffered a drone attack, involving two unmanned aircraft, according to a statement from the Saudi Ministry of Defense.
The State Department did not respond to questions from the New York Times and did not immediately respond to a further request for comment from Bloomberg.
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