An air traffic control tower is seen at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Sept. 19, 2026.

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The U.S. ordered non-emergency government employees and their families to leave Saudi Arabia as Houthi attacks on the kingdom escalate.

The move comes as the U.S. and Israeli militaries have drawn up specific plans for renewed strikes on Iran after next month's midterm elections, according to The New York Times, citing unnamed U.S. officials.

Planning for a "short but intensive" operation is progressing, The Times said.

The developments point to a possible widening of the nearly eight-month war, while U.S. and Iranian negotiators continue talks on Tehran's nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott in a post on X said the order applies only to Saudi Arabia, citing increasing attacks by Iran-aligned Houthis on civilian targets.…