US President Donald Trump rejected a request from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to carry out strikes against Houthi fighters in Yemen, Axios reported on Thursday, citing two unidentified US officials. The request came as the military situation in Yemen deteriorated and Houthi forces advanced toward the coastal city of Mokha.
According to the report, Mohammed bin Salman called Trump on Thursday to brief him on the worsening situation. The Saudi crown prince reportedly called the US president again several hours later and requested American strikes against the Houthis. Trump declined the request, while Washington is expected to continue providing Saudi Arabia with intelligence and targeting information.
The Iran-backed Houthis have controlled large parts of northern Yemen for years and launched a major offensive last week against Saudi-backed government forces. Hundreds of people have reportedly been killed in the fighting. Saudi Arabia has responded with dozens of airstrikes, with Houthi media reporting that the latest strikes hit an airport.
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The conflict has escalated further around the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a strategically important waterway linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Houthi fighters on Friday seized a key Red Sea island in the strait, according to reports, completing a push to gain control of an area important for regional shipping and Saudi oil exports.
While Trump declined Riyadh's request for direct strikes, a US official cited by Axios said more than 200 American military personnel are already in Saudi Arabia providing what was described as “non-kinetic support”. Washington will also provide intelligence on Houthi positions and targeting data. US Central Command chief Brad Cooper travelled to Saudi Arabia on Thursday for urgent coordination meetings.
The renewed fighting in Yemen comes amid a broader escalation in the Middle East following US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Iran has blockaded the Strait of Hormuz, another critical route for global energy supplies, adding to concerns over disruptions to international oil markets. Both Brent crude and US West Texas Intermediate were trading above $100 a barrel on Friday as tensions continued to affect regional security and energy flows.
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