U.S. to order departure of nonessential staff from Saudi Arabia, officials say

RIYADH, March 10 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The United States plans to order nonessential diplomatic personnel and family members of staff to leave Saudi Arabia as Iran escalates retaliation following U.S.-Israeli military operations, two U.S. officials said.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity pending a formal announcement, said the U.S. Department of State was expected to announce the “ordered departure” status on Sunday.

The designation would require nonessential staff and families of employees at U.S. diplomatic facilities to depart the country.

Several U.S. diplomatic missions across the Middle East and South Asia have already implemented the same measure.

“Ordered departure” status is currently in place at U.S. missions in Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as the U.S. consulate in Karachi, Pakistan.

Of those missions, only the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait City and the U.S. Consulate General in Karachi have fully suspended operations.

[AP]