← Fact checks
US departure order covers Saudi Arabia only, not the whole Gulf, says State Department
✕ The claim
All US embassy staff in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries have been ordered to leave immediately.
✓ The facts
On 21 October, US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the ordered departure covers non-emergency US government employees and their family members in Saudi Arabia only, citing Houthi attacks. It does not cover all staff, and the State Department did not announce it for the rest of the Gulf.
What we don't know yet
Reuters, citing US officials, reported that other US missions in the Gulf may also tell families to leave. We will update this check if that is announced.
Spreading in
X post counts on the departure story (all versions), 21 Oct, 12:00–20:05 UTC; includes reposts
