US travel warning for six Middle East countries flags risk of Islamic Republic attack

On Saturday, 24 October 2026, the US State Department updated its travel advisories for Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Lebanon. In the new advisory for Saudi Arabia, the risk of missile and drone attacks by the Islamic Republic and the Houthis it backs against US interests in the country heads the list of reasons.

The travel advisory for Saudi Arabia remains at Level 3, "Reconsider Travel". According to the State Department, non-emergency US government employees and their family members should leave Saudi Arabia. US government employees are not permitted to come within about 32 km of the Yemeni border, and travel to some southern cities and provinces requires special authorization. US citizens have been urged to have an emergency departure plan.

The threat from the Islamic Republic and the Houthis

The State Department recalled that the Islamic Republic and the Houthis have previously targeted Saudi cities, airports, military bases, diplomatic facilities and energy installations with missiles and drones, and that Riyadh airport has been attacked several times over the past month. The Houthis have threatened new attacks, and according to the department, even falling debris from intercepted missiles and drones threatens civilian lives. Travel to the Saudi-Yemeni border areas is not advised under any circumstances.

The update comes a day after a US intelligence memo reported that the Islamic Republic's assassination plots against US officials had reached an advanced stage and four US embassies reduced their staff. The Islamic Republic had also earlier threatened Persian Gulf states with attacks on airports and pipelines.

The shadow of war over the region

The new warnings come as Donald Trump has spoken of the possibility of another military operation against the Islamic Republic if no agreement is reached, and oil prices have climbed to their highest level in six months. The Tehran government's policy of threatening its neighbours and backing the Houthis has now made travel and work across a large part of the region dangerous for citizens of Western countries.

The US State Department considers missile and drone attacks by the Islamic Republic and the Houthis the main risk of travelling to Saudi Arabia.