Concerned about escalating attacks by Yemen's Houthi armed group, the United States will reduce staff at its embassies in four Middle Eastern countries.

On October 23 local time, the U.S. Department of State stated that due to concerns that Yemen's Houthi armed group may intensify rocket, missile, and drone attacks in the Middle East region, the United States will reduce the staffing levels at its embassies in four countries: Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. The U.S. Department of State stated that this personnel adjustment does not involve mandatory evacuation orders. The U.S. embassies in the aforementioned four countries had all previously entered a "restricted operations" status, and staffing levels had already been reduced accordingly; after this adjustment, the embassies will remain open. Earlier this week, the United States had ordered the departure of non-essential diplomatic personnel and their family members from its embassy in Saudi Arabia.