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The United States has warned that the escalating hostilities between Saudi Arabia and Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen could spread rapidly across the region.
US embassies in several Middle Eastern countries issued security alerts urging Americans to exercise heightened vigilance, warning of possible flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel disruptions.
The warning came after Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis towards Riyadh on Saturday—the first reported attack targeting the Saudi capital since the latest escalation. No casualties were reported.
The Houthis have also claimed attacks on Saudi targets, including oil infrastructure, although some of the claims could not be independently verified.
The escalation has raised concerns over wider regional instability and disruption to key shipping routes around the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The US State Department advised Americans outside the Middle East to seriously reconsider travel to and through the region, citing the potential for the conflict to escalate rapidly.
