Americans in Saudi Arabia warned of possible attacks as Yemen fighting flares

WASHINGTON — The US State Department on Monday told Americans in Saudi Arabia to “remain vigilant,” as renewed fighting in neighboring Yemen risks drawing the oil-rich kingdom back into a full-scale war with the Houthis.

In a new travel advisory, the US Embassy in Riyadh warned of “the potential for aerial drone or missile attacks in Saudi Arabia,” urging US citizens to “exercise caution and stay alert” at locations associated with the United States. 

The travel alert comes as Saudi Arabia continues to face Houthi attacks on its shipping and energy infrastructure, shattering a fragile truce between them that has largely held since 2022. In mid-September, the State Department warned Americans to “reconsider travel” to Saudi Arabia amid the risk of Iranian drone and missile attacks targeting US interests. 

The latest US advisory came a day after the internationally recognized Yemeni government, which receives significant support from Saudi Arabia, announced the launch of a counteroffensive to retake the territory seized by the Houthis since 2014. The Iran-backed group’s assault on Yemen’s Red Sea coast last month gave it a foothold to disrupt shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a key chokepoint that connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.