U.S. authorities are issuing urgent warnings to their citizens in several Middle Eastern countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Israel, regarding the rising risk of confrontation and regional tensions due to Houthi attacks.
The security alert was published on the official websites of the U.S. embassies in the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Lebanon, Kuwait, Jordan, Israel, Iraq and Bahrain, although the official travel-risk levels remain unchanged and have not been modified.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy in Beirut renewed its travel warning for Lebanon in a statement, noting that threats have increased due to Houthi attacks. It also emphasized that both the “Dahiyeh” and southern Beirut areas are considered “highly dangerous areas” because of the risk of kidnapping, unexploded ordnance and armed clashes.
On the other hand, the U.S. news network NBC reported that Washington is withdrawing some of its forces from military bases in Jordan, Qatar and Kuwait. The U.S. State Department has also ordered some diplomats and their families in Saudi Arabia to leave the country, following a series of attacks recently carried out against the kingdom.
