Travelers to hot spot sternly warned by State Department as officials deny wider Gulf shutdown

Americans traveling in and through the Middle East have a new wrinkle to sort out.

The U.S.

State Department has pushed back against circulating reports that it directed non-essential government personnel and their dependents to leave the entire Gulf region — clarifying that the departure order applies only to Saudi Arabia.

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott dismissed the broader regional claims, calling them "inaccurate," as the department released a formal statement confirming the targeted drawdown within the kingdom.

"The U.S.

Department of State issued an ordered departure for non-emergency U.S. government employees and their family members in Saudi Arabia," the department said.

AMERICANS WARNED AGAINST TRAVEL PLANS AS TERRORISM THREATENS POPULAR DESTINATION The clarification arrived amid an uptick in militant strikes aimed at key regional transit hubs .

In the statement shared with Fox News Digital, the spokesperson noted that "Iranian-supported Houthis have increasingly engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure resulting in civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions ." Officials warned the current security environment remains highly volatile — adding that the conflict "has the potential to escalate rapidly, including beyond that immediate area." The department emphasized that the safety and security of its staff and their households remain its highest priority.

US STATE DEPARTMENT WARNS AMERICANS OF GROWING SECURITY RISKS IN HISTORIC REGION The United States "will continue to take all necessary steps to protect and support them as they return to the U.S.," the spokesperson said.

In late September, the State Department renewed its warning to Americans traveling in and through the Middle East amid escalating regional tensions.

The warning came as Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched a ballistic missile toward Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which Saudi Arabia said its air defenses intercepted.

Residents reported hearing an explosion and later seeing a plume of smoke near King Khalid International Airport, according to The Associated Press (AP).

No casualties or damage from the attack were reported at the time.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER In an X post in September, the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs warned that the security environment in the Middle East "remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation." The agency added, "Americans currently in the Middle East should exercise heightened vigilance and be aware of potential flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel disruptions." Officials specifically cited hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthis in its warning.