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President Donald Trump cut his Camp David trip short, as he returned to the White House amid a concerning security alert.
According to a White House pool report, Trump, who was set to return to Washington on Sunday, touched down at the Ellipse just before 8 p.m. on Saturday, September 19.
Why did President Trump return early from Camp David?
While no explanation for the early return was provided, the move was made amid a new security alert issued by the State Department on Saturday.
The department advised US residents located in the Middle East to "exercise heightened vigilance" and prepare for potential travel disruption amid new attacks from Houthis on Saudi Arabia.
What did the department warning say?
"This military conflict has the potential to escalate rapidly," the department's advisory said.
"Americans outside the Middle East should seriously reconsider travel to and through the region. Those who do travel to or from the region should monitor information about airport and airline operations."
The alert was expanded to cover multiple Middle Eastern countries, including Iran, Lebanon, and the United Arab Emirates.
In a separate warning, the department said that US businesses and other institutions, who do not share any government affiliation, could also be targeted by the Iran-backed military group.
The Houthis attack Saudi Arabia's capital as tensions escalate
Saudi Arabia confirmed Saturday that the Yemen-based Houthi rebel group attempted to attack its capital with a ballistic missile.
Confirming the move, Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said the group attacked with a "large number of ballistic and cruise missiles" and drones to target the kingdom's capital city, Riyadh, and the facilities of Saudi oil company Aramco in Yanbu.
This attempted attack marks the Houthis' first targeting of Riyadh since renewed fighting between Saudi Arabia and the militant group during the ongoing Iran war.
