Americans in the Middle East should exercise heightened caution following Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and Iranian threats to target US officials in the region, the US embassy in Riyadh warned on Saturday.
"Iranian-supported Houthis have engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure, resulting in civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions," The embassy wrote on X/Twitter.
“These hostilities have the potential to escalate rapidly beyond that immediate area,” the statement added.
Iranian officials told the New York Times in October that US officials were “fair game” due to Israel and the US having attacked and killed many Iranian officials, as well as some of their family members.
The Iranian officials also confirmed US intelligence reports that the Islamic Republic was working to increase its ability to execute assassination plots against American officials and civilians.
On Friday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that he had been forced to leave his home and move to a military base following credible Iranian assassination threats against him.
Saudi coalition intercepts Houthi drones targeting Riyadh
The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen’s Houthis said it intercepted and destroyed two drones launched by the Iran-aligned group at the Saudi capital Riyadh and the kingdom’s southern region on Saturday.
Cross-border fighting involving the Saudi-led coalition, which backs Yemen’s internationally recognized government, and the Houthis, who control the capital Sanaa, has intensified amid rising tensions between the US and Iran.
Tzvi Jasper and Idan Kweller contributed to this report.