RIYADH: The commander of US Central Command General Michael “Erik” Kurilla thanked Saudi Arabia for its support in evacuating US citizens from Sudan on Monday. During a phone call with the Royal Saudi Chief of General Staff Lieutenant-General Fayyadh bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili, Kurilla said the Kingdom had provided access, basing, and overflights as well as resources to evacuate hundreds of American citizens. “This support allowed the movement of these Americans from Sudan to safety in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia,” Kurilla said. He added that the rapid coordination between the two countries was “allowed due to the firm US-Saudi partnership, which dates back more than seven decades.” “We will continue to build on that partnership into the future,” he said. Saudi Arabia evacuated over 200 people from Sudan on Monday and those on board HMS Abha included American citizens.