Saudi Arabia has detained American citizens for photographing recent missile and drone attacks, the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh warned Monday, as Iran-backed Houthi rebels intensify their attacks across the kingdom.
The warning was included in an updated State Department travel advisory issued Monday, which urges Americans to reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia because of the threat of Iranian and Houthi attacks, armed conflict, terrorism, exit bans, and restrictions on social media activity.
“American citizens have been detained for taking photos of recent events,” the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh said.
The advisory urges Americans not to photograph, film, or share information about missile and drone interceptions or impact sites.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior has separately warned that “filming, publishing, or sharing information related to counter missiles and drones and their impact sites exposes you to legal liability,” according to the embassy.
The State Department did not specify how many Americans had been detained or detail the circumstances of their arrests.
The warning comes as Saudi Arabia faces an intensifying campaign of missile and drone attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. On Saturday, Houthi missiles struck King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, killing at least 13 people and wounding more than 300. The attack was the deadliest against a Gulf Arab country since the start of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran.
The Houthis have launched attacks against Saudi cities, airports, military bases, diplomatic facilities, and energy infrastructure.
The State Department warned that falling debris from intercepted missiles and drones poses a risk to people on the ground.
The department maintained its Level 3 travel advisory, advising that Americans reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia. It separately designated the region along the Yemen border as Level 4, warning Americans not to travel there because of terrorism risks and attacks by armed groups.
The State Department warned that Americans can face arrest for social media activity considered critical, offensive, or disruptive to public order by Saudi authorities. Such enforcement can extend to posts published outside the kingdom, including comments criticizing the Saudi government, its leaders, or its policies.
Punishments for social media activity have included prison sentences of up to 45 years, according to the advisory.
The department cautioned that Americans are subject to Saudi law while in the country and that the U.S. government cannot guarantee their release if they are arrested or detained.
The embassy also said U.S. government employees working in Saudi Arabia must obtain special authorization before using any airport in the kingdom. They are prohibited from traveling within 20 miles of the Yemen border and require special authorization to visit several cities and provinces.
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