By The Epoch Times | Created at 2026-09-20 12:46:56 | Updated at 2026-09-20 13:48:36
1 hour ago
The U.S. State Department warned of the potential for unforeseen escalation in the Middle East, asking Americans in the region to exercise heightened vigilance.
“Do not travel to Iran for any reason. U.S. citizens should leave Iran now,” the alert issued Saturday stated.
“This military conflict has the potential to escalate rapidly,” updates issued by U.S. embassies said. “Americans outside the Middle East should seriously reconsider travel to and through the region.”
Americans should “be aware of potential flight cancellations, airspace closures, and travel disruptions,” the alert stated; encouraging citizens to enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.
Specifically, the renewed warning was related to attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis terrorists in Yemen against targets in Saudi Arabia that included civilian airports.
“U.S. diplomatic facilities, including outside the Middle East, have been targeted,” the State Department warned. “Iran and groups supportive of Iran may target other U.S. interests overseas or at locations associated with the United States and Americans throughout the world, including U.S. businesses and other institutions.”
Houthi Offensive
Fighting between the Saudi-led coalition government in Yemen and the Houthis has escalated in recent weeks with the Iran-backed terrorist group advancing to capture Yemen’s coastal areas for control of the strategic Strait of Bab el Mandeb, which has historically handled about 15 percent of global trade.
Tensions further escalated last week on Sept. 10 when the Houthis captured the strategic Yemeni port city of Mokha. The Houthi offensive has also spilled over the northern border into Saudi Arabia, with repeated attacks on Saudi energy and military infrastructure in its south.
On Sept. 19, the Houthis claimed they struck “sensitive” sites in Riyadh and Aramco facilities in Yanbu, calling the attacks a response to what they described as Saudi attempts to target their capital Sanaa.
Smoke and flames were seen at a fuel depot near Riyadh’s main airport. The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted a Houthi ballistic missile fired toward the capital—the first such reported targeting of Riyadh in this round of fighting that began in July—and reported no casualties.
Bab el Mandeb Strait
In July, after the signing of a U.S.–Saudi civil nuclear deal and the twelfth consecutive night of U.S. airstrikes on Iran, the Houthis declared a naval blockade on Saudi shipping in the Red Sea, which leads to the Bab el Mandeb Strait in the south and the Suez Canal in the north. Two Saudi oil tankers were hit.
Saudi Arabia became more reliant on the Bab el Mandeb Strait for oil exports to Asia following Iran’s disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz since February.
The attacks forced the closure of Saudi’s East-West pipeline as a precaution last week. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said he expected flows to resume shortly, while some industry analysts said the disruption may extend to weeks.
Wright added that the Saudis had taken action to ship oil, which would not be transferred through the pipeline to Yanbu, out of the Hormuz Strait with the assistance of the U.S. military.
Commander of U.S. Central Command Admiral Brad Cooper said on Sept. 19 that his forces have supported more than 2,000 transits of commercial vessels through the strait, moving more than 1 billion barrels of crude oil out through the Strait of Hormuz in recent months.
“Clearly, momentum is building,” he said. “The volume of crude oil, cargo, and liquid natural gas these past two weeks is higher than at any point in the past six months” under the “coordinated protection” of the U.S. Navy.
President Donald Trump said on Sept. 17 that his administration was approaching a decision soon on whether to start major attacks against Tehran or try to wind down the conflict.
“I have a big decision coming up. Do I want to go in and annihilate them [the Iranian regime] or do I not? It’s a big decision. Anything could happen with me,” he said.
Trump on Saturday cut short his weekend trip to Camp David. He was originally due to leave on Sunday. The White House gave no official reason for the change.
The president is expected to address the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 22 and host Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a summit at the White House later in the week.
