New Delhi, March 9 -- The US State Department on Sunday ordered non-essential US diplomats and family members of government employees to leave Saudi Arabia amid the conflict in the Middle East.

The order issued by the state department on March 8 cited "safety risks" and called for all non-emergency staff and their families to leave.

"This amends the prior on March 3, 2026, Department of State authorization for non-emergency US government employees and US government employee family members to leave Saudi Arabia due to safety risks," the US Embassy in Riyadh said on Sunday, relaying the state department's orders.

While Washington ordered the departure of non-essential government workers from Saudi Arabia, the state department's travel ad...