The U.S. State Department has ordered the departure of some diplomats and families of American government employees from Saudi Arabia amid escalating attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The move follows a series of strikes on key infrastructure within Saudi Arabia, raising concerns of intensifying conflict in the region.

On Wednesday evening, the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority reported that one Saudi resident was killed during attacks targeting King Fahad International Airport in Dammam. The facility has been a recent focus of Houthi assaults, which have also included strikes on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport. The latter had been closed since October 10 after a significant attack but saw limited resumption of commercial flights earlier on Wednesday. Saudi aviation authorities allowed certain airlines to operate at King Khalid International with prior approval, although some international carriers including Lufthansa and Air France have canceled flights to Riyadh through mid-November, citing security concerns.

The State Department’s order affects nonessential personnel working out of the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh and its satellite consulates. The embassy complex had sustained substantial damage at the onset of the conflict with Iran and was operating with reduced staff for months before some diplomats recently returned. The new directive requires remaining U.S. government staff to limit their exposure to potential violence and calls for families to relocate out of the country.

In an updated travel alert, U.S. officials cited ongoing hostilities by the Iranian-supported Houthis against civilian airports and critical infrastructure, resulting in casualties and serious disruptions to travel. The alert highlights the risk of a rapid escalation beyond the immediate conflict zones and notes that U.S. personnel require special clearance to use Saudi airports.

The Houthi movement has publicly claimed responsibility for the attacks on these airport facilities. The group alleges, without providing evidence, that Saudi Arabia utilizes the airports to deliver military equipment to its forces engaged in Yemen’s civil war. The conflict has thus far drawn in multiple regional powers, further complicating the security landscape for foreign governments and commercial entities operating in Saudi Arabia.