US mission in Riyadh says govt personnel require its permission to use all Saudi airports

The US embassy in Saudi Arabia on Monday said US government employees must obtain its authorisation before using any airport in the kingdom, following a series of deadly attacks.

“US government employees working in Saudi Arabia require special authorization to use any airport in Saudi Arabia,” the mission said in a statement. It also urged US citizens to “take extreme caution” if they choose to use Saudi airports.

The authorisation is “from the embassy only” for US government staff, the embassy told AFP.

Houthi strikes on airports have recently rocked Saudi Arabia, with at least 18 people killed in Riyadh airport — including 13 on Saturday in the deadliest attack on the kingdom in more than a decade — and hundreds wounded.

Two people were also killed in a strike on Abha International Airport on Tuesday.