The United States (US) yesterday ordered non-emergency government staff and their families to leave Saudi Arabia, as attacks on the kingdom by Yemen’s Houthi movement intensified. “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,” a State Department spokesperson said.

At least three people were killed in attacks yesterday. Saudi officials said one person died and eight were injured in an attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, on the Gulf coast, and that two people were killed by falling debris after air defences shot down a drone aimed at the Shaybah oilfield. Earlier this month a strike on Riyadh’s international airport was the kingdom’s deadliest in years.

The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, have held Yemen’s capital, Sana’a, since ousting the government in 2014. A Saudi-led coalition has fought them since 2015. An informal ceasefire collapsed in July, when the Houthis declared a “maritime embargo” against Saudi Arabia and began attacking its airports, oil facilities, and tankers in the Red Sea. They say they are retaliating for a Saudi blockade of their territory.

The attacks matter far beyond the region. Saudi Arabia has relied on the Red Sea to export its oil since the war between the US, Israel, and Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, and the Houthi blockade has helped drive up world oil prices.

The State Department warned that “the hostilities have the potential to escalate rapidly”. It denied reports that families were also being withdrawn from other Gulf states, calling them “inaccurate”.