US missions across the Middle East urged Americans to exercise heightened vigilance, citing Houthi attacks on Saudi airports and the risk of airspace closures, according to embassy alerts.
The alerts, issued on October 18 and 19, warn of possible flight cancellations and wider travel disruption. The US Embassy in the UAE said the Houthis, whom Washington describes as Iran-supported, have hit civilian airports and other critical infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, causing civilian casualties.
It added that the hostilities could escalate rapidly beyond the immediate area.The embassy also warned that Iran and groups supportive of it may target US interests overseas, including businesses and institutions. Americans travelling to or from the region were told to monitor airport and airline operations and draw up contingency plans.
The embassies in Jordan and Kuwait issued matching alerts and kept both countries at Level 3, “reconsider travel”. The US maintains Iran at Level 4, “do not travel”, and told its citizens there on October 18 to leave now, citing the risk of terrorism, unrest, kidnapping and arbitrary arrest.
Other governments are tightening their advice. Australia has raised its Saudi Arabia warning to “do not travel”, according to Smartraveller. The UK Foreign Office, which updated its Saudi guidance on October 8, advises against all travel within 10km of the Yemen border. It also advises against travel to Jeddah and Dammam, and through all Saudi airports except Madinah, unless the journey is urgent.
Saudi Arabia faced five airport attacks in less than a week earlier this month. The Houthis ended a four-year truce with the kingdom on July 13 with missile and drone strikes on Abha airport.
