The US moved on Wednesday to reduce its diplomatic presence in Saudi Arabia by offering free flights home to nonessential diplomats and to all embassy dependents because of "ongoing security concerns."
The State Department also advised private US citizens to consider leaving the country, standard advice that it gives whenever it makes the offer to pay for nonessential diplomats and dependents who wish to leave.
While the offer falls short of ordering diplomats out, it reflects the acute US security worries in the kingdom, which has seen several residential compounds for expatriates attacked this year. On May 12, suicide bombers killed about 35 people, including nine Americans, at housing compounds in Riyadh.
"The decision to authorize voluntary departure is based on the reality that the terrorist threat in Saudi Arabia remains at a critical level," said State Department spokesman Lou Fintor, adding that several dozen people were eligible for the flights out.
The decision to offer free flights home to nonessential diplomats and embassy dependents was announced in a State Department travel warning that largely echoed previous statements about threats in Saudi Arabia.
"Due to ongoing security concerns ... the Department of State authorized the departure, on a voluntary basis, of family members and nonemergency personnel of the US Embassy and Consulates in Saudi Arabia," the travel warning said. "Private American citizens should evaluate their own security situations and should consider departing the country."
"The US government continues to receive indications of terrorist threats aimed at American and Western interests, including the targeting of transportation and civil aviation," it added in language identical to its last warning on Dec. 8.
"Credible information indicates that terrorists continue to target residential compounds in Saudi Arabia, particularly in the Riyadh area, but also compounds throughout the country."
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