The sharp escalation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis has raised concerns that the confrontation could spread further across the region, with Washington worried that the conflict could intensify and potentially lead the Houthis to resume direct attacks on Israel, diplomatic officials told Maariv on Tuesday.
The officials said the key question is whether the situation can be brought under control or whether the confrontation will continue to escalate. Among the regional consequences being considered is the possibility that the Houthis could again try to attack Israel directly, as they did last year.
The concerns come after the US State Department updated its security guidance for American citizens in the Middle East, warning that the military confrontation between the Iran-backed Houthis and Saudi Arabia could escalate rapidly. The US Embassy in Israel also issued an alert urging citizens to remain vigilant and consider the possibility of flight disruptions, airspace closures, and transportation disruptions.
Diplomatic officials stressed that the updated and expanded warnings should not necessarily be seen as a sign that immediate developments are expected. The wording, they said, also reflects the administration's responsibility to warn American citizens in the region and make clear the seriousness of the situation should the confrontation intensify.
The warnings come against the backdrop of the latest escalation in the confrontation. Saudi Arabia confirmed that the Houthis launched a ballistic missile toward Riyadh, which was intercepted by the Saudi air defense system.
It was the first time the Saudi capital had been targeted since the current wave of escalation began. Residents reported hearing an explosion, and smoke was later seen near Riyadh's airport. No casualties or damage were reported.
The Houthis claimed they attacked "sensitive targets" in Riyadh with missiles and drones, as well as facilities belonging to oil giant Aramco in Yanbu. Saudi Arabia said it had also thwarted attempts to strike civilian infrastructure in Yanbu, Taif, Baish, and the Farasan Islands. Houthi claims that Aramco facilities were hit have not been verified.
Saudis divide efforts between defending territory, Red Sea shipping
The wave of attacks has forced Saudi Arabia to divide its efforts between defending cities and infrastructure from missiles and drones, securing energy facilities, and protecting shipping routes in the Red Sea.
In recent months, the Houthis have expanded their attacks on Saudi Arabia and shipping in the region, and in July they declared a naval blockade against the kingdom. Any disruption to traffic through the Bab al-Mandab Strait could significantly increase the economic and strategic cost of the confrontation.
Amid the tensions, US President Donald Trump returned to the White House from Camp David earlier than planned. No official explanation was given for the schedule change, and no confirmation links his early return to developments in the Middle East.
The return came as discussions were underway in Washington over the desired extent of US involvement in the confrontation. US media reported that options for action against the Houthis were examined while Trump was at Camp David, but no US decision to launch a strike was announced.
Washington has so far refrained from direct military intervention alongside Saudi Arabia in the current round of fighting and has not agreed to Riyadh's request to take military action against the Houthis.
Israel is closely monitoring developments. Israeli officials believe the pressure facing Saudi Arabia could also affect Riyadh's diplomatic calculations.
"Such an escalation could actually help the Abraham Accords," the officials said.
Israeli officials: Saudis recognizing alliances insufficient for Houthi threat
According to the officials, the Saudis are under pressure and are discovering that the relationships and alliances they have built are not currently providing a complete response to the threat. If the Houthi threat intensifies and the assistance the kingdom receives from its allies remains limited, they assess that Israeli capabilities could carry greater weight in the eyes of the Saudi leadership.
Saudi Arabia has been working in recent weeks to secure outside assistance. According to reports, amid a shortage of interceptors, it has requested air-defense assistance from France, the UK, Pakistan, and Egypt.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also traveled to Cairo and, according to the reports, sought Egyptian support against the Houthis.
Security cooperation among Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan is also being tested by developments on the ground.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Ankara was prepared to assist with Saudi military needs under the defense agreement among the three countries. Pakistan has so far not joined military action against the Houthis.
The gap between Riyadh's security needs and the assistance it is actually receiving is at the heart of the Israeli assessment. Israeli officials point in this context to the experience and capabilities Israel has accumulated in intelligence and air defense against the Houthis.
As the campaign continues, they assess that those capabilities could also become part of Saudi Arabia's broader considerations.