US issues Middle East alert amid Houthi attacks

WASHINGTON: The United States has issued a security alert for American citizens across the Middle East amid escalating Houthi attacks on civilian airports and critical infrastructure, warning of possible flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel disruptions.

The US Embassy in Riyadh said the regional security situation remained complex and could deteriorate rapidly. It urged Americans travelling to or from the Middle East to monitor airport and airline updates and prepare alternative travel arrangements.

The embassy also warned that Iran and groups aligned with Tehran could target US interests abroad, including American businesses and other institutions associated with the United States.

The alert comes as Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement has intensified attacks on Saudi Arabia, including reported strikes targeting Riyadh’s international airport and facilities linked to state-owned oil giant Saudi Aramco. The attacks have caused civilian casualties and disrupted travel, according to the US embassy.

Meanwhile, Egypt has signalled its readiness to provide Saudi Arabia with necessary support to protect its security and stability as tensions spread across the region.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has sought an urgent parliamentary session to authorise the military to assist Saudi Arabia if Riyadh formally requests help. A parliamentary decision was expected earlier, but discussions were set to continue on Monday, according to lawmakers and local media reports.

The Egyptian presidency said Cairo was prepared to support Saudi Arabia in safeguarding its territory, resources and Islamic holy sites. The announcement followed a meeting of Egypt’s National Defence Council chaired by Sisi.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty also held a telephone conversation with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan to discuss regional developments and the need to prevent further escalation.

Any direct Egyptian military involvement could widen the conflict and expose Egypt to possible Houthi retaliation. The group has developed a significant missile and drone capability and has repeatedly targeted infrastructure across the region.

The renewed fighting between the Saudi-backed Yemeni government and the Houthis has opened another front in the wider conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. The Houthis control Sanaa and large parts of northern Yemen.

The collapse of a truce has intensified fighting and raised concerns over the security of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategic shipping passage connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Any serious disruption to this route could affect international trade and energy shipments.

The wider conflict has already threatened global energy supplies and contributed to rising oil prices since the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran in late February.

Saudi Arabia has sought assistance from regional partners, including Pakistan, as it faces renewed Houthi attacks. Riyadh had also approached US President Donald Trump for help, but Washington did not agree to launch strikes against the group, according to sources cited in earlier reports. The United States instead offered intelligence-sharing and assistance with targeting.

Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman visited Abu Dhabi on Sunday and met UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Discussions focused on regional security, according to the Emirati state news agency.

The meeting followed a visit to Riyadh last month by UAE Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The visit came amid strained relations between Saudi Arabia and the UAE following a deep rift that emerged between the two Gulf powers last year.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia maintain close strategic and economic ties. Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have provided Egypt with substantial financial assistance and investments since 2013.

Egypt previously joined the Saudi-led coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 against the Houthis, although its direct combat role remained limited.

With attacks continuing and regional powers discussing possible responses, concerns are growing that further military involvement could broaden the conflict and threaten civilian safety, air travel, shipping routes and energy infrastructure across the Middle East.