Washington, September 20: The United States administration is reviewing military options against Houthi forces in Yemen following a reported missile attack targeting Riyadh, as tensions continue to rise across West Asia.
US President Donald Trump returned to the White House early on Saturday after spending the night at Camp David, amid reports that discussions at the presidential retreat focused on possible military action against the Houthis.
CNN National Security Analyst Alex Plitsas said on X that Trump’s Camp David meeting was held to review and discuss options for strikes in Yemen. He also said US diplomatic missions in several Middle Eastern countries had issued security warnings amid concerns over possible retaliatory attacks.
The developments follow Saudi Arabia’s statement that Houthi forces attempted to target Riyadh with ballistic missiles, which Saudi air defences intercepted. The Houthis said they had targeted “sensitive sites” but did not identify the locations.
The reported discussions come amid tensions involving the United States, Iran and Yemen. US diplomatic missions in the region have advised American citizens to monitor embassy and consular alerts, warning that security conditions could change rapidly.
The US State Department has also warned of potential Iranian drone and missile attacks in Saudi Arabia, as well as threats linked to Houthi forces operating from Yemen.
Meanwhile, Iranian security official Mohsen Rezaei told Al Jazeera that Tehran remained in contact with Qatar as a mediator and had conveyed conditions to Washington for ending the conflict. He said Iran was seeking an end to the war on all fronts, the release of frozen Iranian funds and an end to the naval blockade.
Iran has said it is prepared for a prolonged confrontation if its demands are not accepted, while the Trump administration continues to consider military options alongside diplomatic efforts.
There have also been reports of increased military activity in the region. Russia Today reported that a US bomber had left an air base in the United Kingdom for West Asia, while Iran’s Press TV reported air-defence activity near the Kharab al-Jir base in northeastern Syria. These reports could not be independently verified.
The developments come ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where the conflict in West Asia is expected to remain a key issue.
With diplomatic contacts continuing and military options under consideration, attention is now focused on Washington’s next steps and whether the situation can be contained through negotiations or lead to further regional military action.