The United States warned that the conflicts between Saudi Arabia and Iran-backed Houthis may escalate rapidly, following the first missile attack on Riyadh. This attack occurred as the Yemen war has resumed.
Immediate Return of the U.S. President
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, abruptly cut short his weekend at Camp David and returned to the White House. The White House did not provide an explanation for this early return, as a new threshold in the conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, who control large parts of Yemen, has been crossed.
Missile Attacks and International Reactions
On Saturday, loud explosions were heard in Riyadh, and reporters witnessed a fuel tanker with the logo of the Aramco oil company on fire near the airport. The U.S. State Department announced that this military conflict could escalate quickly and advised American citizens outside the Middle East to seriously reconsider travel to the region.
The State Department also restricted travel for U.S. government employees to the cities of Taif and Yanbu. In recent weeks, rapid and widespread attacks by the Houthis on areas in Yemen have resulted in hundreds of deaths and the displacement of over 110,000 people.
Saudi Arabia, as one of the largest crude oil suppliers in the world, is facing a crisis in exports and maritime traffic. At the same time, the United States has sent mixed signals. Reports indicate that Washington has rejected Saudi Arabia's request to attack the Houthis.
On Sunday, John Ratcliffe, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, made a rare visit to Cairo and met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. This meeting followed the visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Cairo, where he and el-Sisi emphasized the safety and security of navigation in Bab el-Mandeb.
The Saudis are working hard to control the consequences of the Houthi attacks on their territory, while these attacks have put additional pressure on the global economy, which has been affected by seven months of war in the Middle East.
