US moves some diplomats out of Mideast posts, CNN reports

The State Department ordered non-emergency staff and all family members out of Saudi Arabia on Oct 21, citing Houthi attacks.

The clearest step so far is in Saudi Arabia. The State Department ordered non-emergency personnel and all family members to leave the country on Oct 21. Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the Houthis have increasingly engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia. A State Department official told CNN the drawdown was 'about the Houthis'.

Elsewhere the moves are less formal. The Foreign Service Association (AFSA) said families outside Saudi Arabia are being told to leave without housing help or a daily living allowance. AFSA said they were told their embassies are not changing status from restricted operations. CNN said many of those leaving had only recently returned to their posts after being ordered out during the Iran war. AFSA spokesperson Nikki Gamer was among those CNN quoted.

CNN said the moves come as the Houthis have stepped up attacks on Saudi Arabia, and as Donald Trump has suggested he could relaunch strikes on Iran after the midterms. CNN said Israel has lobbied for more immediate action, without success so far. Staffing adjustments have also been reported at embassies in Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE and Lebanon. On Oct 15, strikes on Iran using bunker-buster bombs were under consideration. Taken with those reports, the drawdown is a concrete step, not only a new signal.