The US has updated its travel advice for the Middle East because of a growing threat of attacks on countries in the region by the Iran-backed Houthis from Yemen, the State Department said on Friday. There are fears that the escalation could spread beyond Saudi Arabia.
The updated warnings cover six countries: Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Iraq and Lebanon. Risk levels have not changed. Israel, Qatar and the UAE remain at level 3, which advises Americans to reconsider travel. Iraq and Lebanon remain at level 4, the highest, with advice not to travel at all.
The State Department points to a "threat of increased regional aggression by the Iran-backed Houthis" after a series of missile and drone strikes on airports, energy sites and other infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. The latest strikes killed civilians and disrupted air travel. The Houthi campaign against Saudi Arabia is growing, and tension between Washington and Tehran is rising.
On Israel, US officials warn that tension in the region could escalate without warning and affect transport and security. The warnings for Gulf states are similar. Travellers there are urged to stay alert, follow local security alerts and have back-up plans. The warnings also say commercial flights could be suddenly disrupted.
Washington is also reducing its diplomatic presence in parts of the region. On 21 October the State Department ordered non-emergency US government staff and their families to leave Saudi Arabia. There are also reports of staff changes at US missions in Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar and the UAE.