Hyderabad, Sept. 20 -- The United States has warned of a potential rapid escalation in the Middle East after Yemen's Houthi group claimed attacks on Saudi Arabia, including targets in Riyadh and Yanbu.

In a security alert issued on Saturday, September 19, the US Department of State said the regional security environment remained complex, with the potential for "unforeseen escalation". US diplomatic missions in Jordan, Israel, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Lebanon also issued security warnings to American citizens.

The warnings urged Americans currently in the Middle East to exercise heightened vigilance and remain aware of possible flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel disrupti...