Zillar Barta Desk, Washington : US President Donald Trump has reportedly returned early to the White House from Camp David as his administration reviews possible military options against Yemen’s Houthi forces following a missile attack targeting Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh. Reports citing US officials and security analysts say possible strikes in Yemen were discussed, although no decision to launch an attack has been publicly announced.
The development follows a Houthi ballistic missile attack directed toward Riyadh on Saturday. Saudi Arabia said its air defences intercepted and destroyed the missile. The Houthis, meanwhile, claimed they had targeted what they described as “sensitive sites” in Riyadh and also launched attacks against an Aramco facility in Yanbu. The claims regarding specific damage have not been independently verified.
The Riyadh attack has added another layer to the escalating conflict in the region. The US State Department has warned that hostilities involving Saudi Arabia and the Houthis could escalate rapidly, while US diplomatic missions in the Middle East have issued fresh security warnings.
Trump's administration had previously resisted direct military intervention against the Houthis. Earlier this month, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly urged Trump to take military action against the group, but US officials said at the time that Washington had no immediate plans for direct intervention.
The latest developments have raised concerns about a broader regional escalation involving the United States, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Iran. Any US military action against Houthi positions could potentially trigger further retaliatory attacks and place additional pressure on energy infrastructure and shipping routes in the Red Sea.
For now, the reported US strike options remain under consideration, and there is no confirmed announcement that Trump has ordered military action against the Houthis.
