The warning came after explosions were reported in the Saudi capital on Saturday, with a fuel tank bearing the logo of oil giant Aramco reported to be on fire near the airport.
The US State Department said the military conflict had the potential to escalate rapidly and urged American citizens outside the Middle East to seriously reconsider travel to and through the region.
The attack represented the first time since Yemen’s civil war resumed that Houthi strikes had threatened the Saudi capital, adding to concerns over the widening regional conflict.
Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh-led coalition said a ballistic missile launched towards the capital had been intercepted and destroyed. The coalition also accused the Houthis of attempting to target civilians and civilian infrastructure in several western Saudi cities, including Yanbu, a major Red Sea port and oil-export hub.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for attacks involving ballistic and cruise missiles and drones. Their military spokesman, Yahya Saree, said one operation targeted what the group described as sensitive sites in Riyadh, while another targeted Aramco facilities in Yanbu.
Saudi authorities had earlier issued overnight alerts warning residents in Riyadh and nearby areas of a possible aerial attack. Residents reported hearing explosions before the alert was lifted.
The latest escalation has also raised concerns over energy supplies and international shipping. Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s largest oil suppliers, while Yanbu is an important outlet for the country’s crude exports. Continued attacks on Saudi cities, energy infrastructure and shipping could therefore create additional pressure on global oil markets and maritime trade.
The renewed fighting follows a major Houthi offensive in Yemen that has seen the group seize significant territory along the country’s Red Sea coastline. The United Nations has said the recent fighting has displaced more than 110,000 people, while hundreds have reportedly been killed.
Saudi Arabia has responded with airstrikes against Houthi-held areas as the conflict has intensified. The Houthis have vowed to continue retaliatory attacks.
The escalation is taking place against the backdrop of the wider conflict involving the United States and Iran, increasing concerns that fighting in Yemen could become connected to other fronts across the Middle East.
Washington has also taken steps to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s defensive capabilities. The US State Department said Thursday that Washington had approved a $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia to help the kingdom deter current and future threats.
The United States has nevertheless indicated that it wants to avoid being drawn further into the Saudi-Houthi confrontation. The latest warning reflects growing concern that continued attacks and retaliation could produce a broader regional escalation.
For the region and the global economy, the developments are particularly significant because any prolonged disruption to Saudi oil infrastructure or Red Sea shipping could affect energy supplies, trade routes and already unsettled international markets.
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