US President Donald Trump has rejected a request from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to launch American strikes against Yemen’s Houthis, as the Iran-backed group advances toward a key Red Sea shipping route, according to Axios, citing two US officials.
Mohammed bin Salman, widely known as MBS, reportedly called Trump twice on Thursday and urged him to order US military action against the Houthis.
Trump declined the request, while US officials said the administration currently has no plans to intervene directly against the group, Axios reported.
Reuters said it could not immediately independently verify the report. The White House and Saudi embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
US seeks to avoid opening another front
The US is increasingly concerned about the escalation in Yemen but is seeking to support Saudi Arabia without becoming directly involved in another military campaign, according to the report.
US military and civilian officials have reportedly told their Saudi counterparts that Trump wants American forces focused on Iran and safeguarding the Strait of Hormuz.
Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, travelled to Saudi Arabia on Thursday for urgent coordination talks, according to Axios.
A US official said Washington would provide Saudi Arabia with intelligence and targeting information to support its efforts against the Houthis.
Around 200 US military personnel are already in Saudi Arabia providing non-kinetic support, the official said.
Houthi advance raises Red Sea concerns
The Saudi request comes as Houthi forces advance toward the coastal city of Mokha, bringing them closer to the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
The strategic waterway connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is a major route for global trade and Saudi oil exports.
Oil prices surged on Thursday after the Houthis seized a strategic coastal city in Yemen, adding to concerns about disruptions to regional shipping.
With Iran already restricting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, greater Houthi control around Bab al-Mandab could provide Tehran and its allies with additional leverage over shipping routes and regional energy supplies.
Saudi policy shifts as fighting intensifies
Saudi Arabia’s latest request marks a shift from its position in July, when Riyadh reportedly told Washington it could handle the Houthi threat without US military assistance.
The confrontation intensified after Saudi Arabia prevented an Iranian aircraft carrying senior Houthi officials from landing in Sanaa.
The Houthis subsequently attacked Saudi tankers in the Red Sea and later targeted Saudi energy facilities, according to Axios.
Saudi Arabia and its Yemeni allies responded with airstrikes and ground operations against Houthi positions.
