Daily Mail
· collected 2026-09-20 · by Stephen M. Lepore
- Sign up HERE for the DC Insider Newsletter - our guide to what's rocking Washington, rattling the White House and setting tongues wagging on the Hill
- See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source
Donald Trump ended his visit to Camp David early amid Middle East tensions after Iran-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for a barrage of missile attacks on 'sensitive' sites in Saudi Arabia.
asserted
Houthis → sign → Arabia
The Saudis on Saturday confirmed the Yemeni rebels tried to attack its capital with a ballistic missile after video showed smoke flames billowing over Riyadh airport.
asserted
flames → confirm → airport
Trump was originally slated to spend the entire weekend at the retreat and come back to the White House on Sunday.
asserted
Trump → slat → Sunday
However, Trump landed in Marine One on the White House South Lawn at 7:57pm local time Saturday night.
asserted
Trump → land → time
Aides Natalie Harp and Walt Nauta were seen among a group walking off the helicopter toward the White House.
asserted
Harp → see → House
The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House for comment.
asserted
Mail → reach → comment
The US State Department confirmed the Houthis have 'engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including civilian airports.
asserted
Houthis → confirm → airports
'This military conflict has the potential to escalate rapidly.
asserted
conflict → have → potential
Americans outside the Middle East should seriously reconsider travel to and through the region,' they continued.
asserted
they → reconsider → region
Donald Trump ended his visit to Camp David early amid Middle East tensions after Iran-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for a barrage of missile attacks on 'sensitive' sites in Saudi Arabia
The Saudis on Saturday confirmed the Yemeni rebels tried to attack its capital with a ballistic missile after video showed smoke flames billowing over Riyadh airport
The State Department also warned that Americans in the region 'should exercise heightened vigilance' and be prepared for potential flight cancellations and other travel disruptions.
asserted
Americans → end → cancellations
The Houthi attacks were the first targeting of Riyadh since the escalation in fighting and has opened a new front in the Iran war.
asserted
attacks → open → war
The statement by the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis came long after the dawn missile attack, which the coalition said was intercepted.
asserted
coalition → lead → attack
Some residents in Riyadh heard an explosion.
asserted
residents → hear → explosion
Later, some saw a plume of smoke near the airport.
asserted
some → see → airport
The statement also said the Houthis tried to attack civilian infrastructure in the Red Sea port city of Yanbu - where a key Saudi pipeline ends - and in Taif, Baysh and Farasan but they were thwarted, giving no further details.
asserted
they → say → details
The Houthis earlier claimed, without providing evidence, that they had targeted 'sensitive sites' in Riyadh and facilities of Saudi oil giant Aramco in Yanbu, causing 'massive fires.'
asserted
they → claim → fires
The growing conflict near another important global shipping corridor has brought new pressures for markets.
asserted
conflict → grow → markets
President Donald Trump steps off from Marine One upon his arrival at the Ellipse just outside of the White House Saturday
Supporters of Yemen's Houthi rebels shout slogans during a rally in support of the group and to protest Saudi Arabia's accusation that the Houthis targeted Islam's holiest site of Mecca
Houthi military spokesman Yahya al-Sarea said a 'large number of ballistic and cruise missiles and drones' had been used to target sites in Riyadh as well as facilities belonging to state oil giant Aramco in Yanbu.
asserted
number → step → Yanbu
He said the strikes were carried out 'in response to the Saudi enemy's criminal attempts' to target the Yemeni capital Sanaa.
asserted
strikes → say → capital
The claims came hours after flames and a huge plume of black smoke were seen near Riyadh's main international airport.
uncertain
flames → come → airport
Footage showed thick smoke billowing into the sky near King Khalid International Airport after booms were heard across the Saudi capital.
asserted
booms → show → capital
Saudi Arabia had earlier warned of a 'hostile aerial threat', issuing a string of emergency alerts across the kingdom late Friday and early Saturday.
asserted
Arabia → warn → kingdom
Recent days have seen one escalation after another.
asserted
days → see → another
On Thursday, the first civilian casualty was reported as the Saudi civil defense said debris from an intercepted Houthi drone killed a Yemeni resident of Saudi Arabia.
asserted
debris → report → Arabia
And on Wednesday, Saudi Arabia said the Houthis had tried to attack Mecca, Islam´s holiest city, with a drone that it said was intercepted, calling the security of the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad a 'red line.'
asserted
it → say → Muhammad
The Houthis fiercely denied the accusation.
asserted
Houthis → deny → accusation
The United States, a close Saudi ally, has signaled it has no current fight with the Houthis.
asserted
it → signal → Houthis
White House pool reporters noted Trump landed in Marine One on the White House South Lawn at 7:57pm local time Saturday night
Aides Natalie Harp (pictured right) and Walt Nauta (pictured left) were seen among a group walking off the helicopter toward the White House
Meanwhile, fighting has surged inside Yemen between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed, internationally recognized government.
asserted
fighting → note → Houthis
The rebels raced down the country's Red Sea coast over a week ago, seizing the key port city of Mokha and islands on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea.
asserted
rebels → race → Sea
That has improved their surveillance of passing ships, though the Houthis have said they are only targeting Saudi ones.
asserted
they → improve → ones
The fighting in Yemen also marks a return to a devastating civil war after four years of relative calm.
asserted
fighting → mark → calm
The Aporia
