US Reduces Personnel in Middle East and Pulls Non-Essential Staff From Saudi Arabia

In response to rising threats in the Middle East, the US State Department has ordered a reduction in the number of personnel not involved in emergency missions, along with their families, in Saudi Arabia. The move came at the same time as the withdrawal of some non-essential government employees.

NBC News, citing US officials, reported that the American military has reduced its presence in various parts of the Middle East in recent days. The US State Department also said it had ordered cuts in staffing at some US diplomatic missions in the region.

However, a State Department spokesperson rejected a Reuters report that the order included the departure of staff from US embassies in other Gulf countries, stressing that the directive applies only to non-essential personnel in Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, CNN, citing informed sources, reported that following threats made by the Ansarallah group, US diplomatic missions in the Middle East are reducing their staffing levels.