US warns of Mideast escalation as Houthis strike Saudi targets

The United States expressed concern about potential escalation in the Middle East following reported Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including strikes on the capital Riyadh and Aramco facilities in Yanbu. The Yemen-based militant group claimed responsibility for the coordinated assault, which marked a significant escalation in regional hostilities. Saudi-led coalition air defence systems intercepted a ballistic missile targeting Riyadh, according to coalition statements, though Houthis maintained their operations successfully struck intended targets. Washington's heightened alert reflects broader anxiety about the conflict's trajectory and potential for wider destabilisation across the Arabian Peninsula and beyond. The attacks underscore the persistent security challenges facing Saudi Arabia and international efforts to contain the Yemen conflict, which has drawn in multiple regional and international actors since 2015.