US Warns of Rapid Escalation as Houthis Strike Riyadh
The United States has warned of a rapid escalation in the Middle East war after a missile attack targeted Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. The attack was carried out by the Iran-backed Houthis and marked the first time since the Yemen conflict resumed that they had hit the Saudi capital.
Loud explosions shook the city on Saturday, with journalists reporting a burning fuel tank bearing the Aramco logo near the airport. The State Department has warned of the potential for rapid escalation and urged Americans outside the Middle East to reconsider travel to and through the region.
The Houthis' recent lightning offensive in Yemen has killed hundreds and displaced over 110,000 people, according to the UN. The violence has disrupted Saudi oil exports and maritime traffic. An analyst noted that the attack had crossed an important psychological threshold, making it harder for Saudi Arabia to sustain restraint amid a global economy already impacted by seven months of war.