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The Trump administration has ordered non-emergency US government employees and their families to leave Saudi Arabia as deadly Houthi attacks intensify across the kingdom, raising the stakes as President Trump weighs direct military action against the Iran-backed group .

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott confirmed Wednesday that the mandatory departure order applies only to Saudi Arabia, pushing back on reports that Washington was preparing a broader evacuation of diplomatic personnel across the Gulf.

“The US Department of State issued an ordered departure for non-emergency US government employees and their family members in Saudi Arabia only,” Pigott said.

The order comes amid a surge in Houthi missile and drone attacks that has left civilians dead , disrupted air travel and sent Saudi Arabia scrambling for additional missile defenses.

“Iranian-supported Houthis have increasingly engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including attacks on…