US Embassy Tightens Airport Access for Staff in Saudi Arabia
The U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia now requires government employees to obtain special authorization to use airports in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam following deadly attacks on King Khalid International Airport.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - The U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia has expanded restrictions on airport use by government employees, requiring special authorization for travel through airports in Jeddah and Dammam in addition to Riyadh following deadly attacks on the Saudi capital's main international airport.
The embassy announced the new measures on Sunday, saying U.S. government employees working in Saudi Arabia must obtain approval before using King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, as well as airports in Jeddah and Dammam.
The restrictions extend an earlier order covering Riyadh and reflect heightened security concerns following attacks on King Khalid International Airport.
"US government employees working in Saudi Arabia require special authorisation to use the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, as well as the airports in Jeddah and Dammam," the embassy said in an online statement cited by Agence France-Presse.
The move comes after Saturday's attack on King Khalid International Airport, which Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation said killed 12 people and wounded 309 others.
Read More: Saudi Coalition Vows Response After Deadly Riyadh Airport Strike
Four of those killed were Saudi citizens, while the other victims included two Bangladeshi nationals and one citizen each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan.
Saudi authorities said some of the injured remained in serious condition.
The strike also caused significant damage at the airport and led to the suspension of operations while authorities assessed the destruction.
The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Houthis blamed the Iran-backed group for the attack and said it would respond firmly.
The Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for Saturday's strike, although they had claimed earlier attacks on King Khalid International Airport during the previous week.
The security fallout has extended beyond aviation.
Schools across Riyadh have been ordered to switch to online learning for the entire week, marking the second such move in less than a month.
Read More: Riyadh Schools Go Online Following Airport Strike
Parents received notifications citing instructions from the Saudi Ministry of Education directing schools to conduct classes remotely.
The decision was intended to reduce unnecessary movement and large gatherings while security conditions remain uncertain.
Several foreign governments have also advised their citizens to avoid the airport area.
The U.S. Embassy's decision to broaden restrictions to Jeddah and Dammam means its staff now face additional travel controls at three of Saudi Arabia's major aviation hubs.
The embassy statement did not provide further details in the supplied material on how long the restrictions would remain in place or the criteria for granting special authorization.
For now, the measure adds another layer of precaution as Saudi authorities continue assessing the security consequences of the recent attacks and their impact on civilian aviation.