U.S. President Donald Trump cut short his weekend stay at Camp David and unexpectedly returned to the White House on Saturday amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
The administration did not provide an explanation for his decision to return a day earlier than previously announced.
Changes to the White House travel schedule over weekends are not unusual, particularly because of weather conditions. Forecasts had indicated rain and thunderstorms on Sunday in the mountainous Camp David area of Maryland.
The change in plans came as the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis in Yemen announced Saturday that the Iran-backed group had launched a ballistic missile toward Riyadh at dawn, following a fire near the Saudi capital’s international airport.
The U.S. State Department and several U.S. embassies across the Middle East issued security warnings to American citizens.
The advisories cited the “potential for unexpected escalation,” noting that “Iran-backed Houthis have engaged in hostilities against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including against civilian airports.”
The State Department added that “this military conflict is likely to escalate quickly,” and urged Americans outside the Middle East to seriously reconsider traveling to or through the region.
U.S. embassies in the region also issued security alerts advising Americans to avoid traveling to military bases. The alerts noted that Iran had also targeted critical civilian infrastructure across the Middle East, including hotels, airports and other civilian sites.
In the event of an air attack, the advisories recommended staying away from doors and glass windows and avoiding falling debris. Americans were also advised to monitor their phones and local media for official instructions, keep their phones charged and have emergency numbers readily available.
Source: AFP
