United States President, Donald Trump, returned to the White House earlier than scheduled on Saturday after cutting short his weekend stay at Camp David, amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
Trump had been expected to remain at the presidential retreat in rural Maryland until Sunday, but his return was brought forward without an explanation from the White House.
The change in his schedule came as the Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis reported that the group had fired a ballistic missile towards Riyadh early Saturday.
The development followed a fire reported near the Saudi capital’s international airport, while the United States State Department and several US embassies issued security warnings to Americans in the region.
The alerts cited “the potential for unforeseen escalation” and noted that “Iranian-supported Houthis have engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including civilian airports.”
“This military conflict has the potential to escalate rapidly,” the State Department warning said.
“Americans outside the Middle East should seriously reconsider travel to and through the region.”
Trump’s decision to return to Washington also came as concerns grew over the possibility of further escalation in the region.
However, there was no immediate indication that his altered travel schedule was directly linked to the latest security developments.
Changes to White House travel plans are not unusual, including during weekends when weather conditions can affect movements.
Forecasts for the Camp David area had predicted rain and thunderstorms on Sunday.
