US warns of rapid escalation in Mideast war

The United States has warned that fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthis could escalate rapidly after a missile attack targeted Riyadh for the first time since the Yemen conflict resumed. US President Donald Trump cut short a weekend at Camp David to return to the White House. In the Saudi capital, AFP journalists observed a fire at an Aramco fuel tank near the airport. The US State Department warned of the potential for rapid escalation and advised American citizens to reconsider travel to the region. The Saudi-led coalition confirmed it had intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the attacks, stating they targeted sensitive sites in Riyadh and Aramco facilities in Yanbu. Amidst the rising tensions, Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan indicated that his country is prepared to provide military assistance to Saudi Arabia if requested.