Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has urged President Trump to engage in military action against the Iran-backed Houthis. The Houthis have made swift advances along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. According to two sources, the Crown Prince and Trump have discussed the issue multiple times.
Despite the pressure, Trump has refrained from direct military involvement. Instead, he has offered intelligence and targeting support, as reported by sources with knowledge of the sensitive talks.
Admiral Bradley Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, was in Saudi Arabia for coordination discussions. However, a CENTCOM spokesperson declined to confirm his location.
This Saudi initiative aims to form a coalition to counter the Houthis and guard against potential Iranian retaliation. Concerned parties fear Iran may strike Saudi Arabia if the Houthis are attacked. A coalition seeks to bolster defenses against such a response.
Iran is under intense pressure from these subgroups because people think they gave up on Hezbollah and Hamas. If the Houthis are attacked, how will Iran respond? Do they hit Saudi Arabia? That’s why they’re building this coalition to protect them if Iran attacks.
Fighters loyal to the Houthis were seen gathering in Sanaa, Yemen, recently.
U.S.-Saudi discussions remain ongoing, with Axios initially reporting on the Crown Prince’s appeals and the Saudi push for U.S. military action.
The Houthis recently captured the strategic port of Mokha, enhancing their hold on the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The Yemeni government stated the Houthis have now taken control of all islands in the strait, increasing their leverage over this pivotal chokepoint. Oil prices have surged to nearly $100 a barrel, the highest since July, with projections of reaching $120 if tensions persist in the region.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented that the U.S. is closely monitoring Yemen. The State Department has yet to respond to requests for comment.
A senior administration official highlighted the U.S. focus on protecting core national security interests. This includes ensuring freedom of navigation in the Red Sea while supporting regional partners managing security challenges. The U.S. maintains ongoing discussions with Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government regarding regional stability.
Trump expressed reluctance toward greater U.S. military involvement unless essential. In a recent speech, he emphasized the strength of the U.S. military and reiterated the aim to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
Tensions with Iran escalated after U.S. forces destroyed five Iranian oil tankers. This followed Iranian missile attacks on a U.S. Navy vessel. Additionally, Iran targeted a U.S. military base in Jordan, damaging American aircraft. The U.S. responded with Patriot missile defenses.
Charlie D’Agata contributed to this report.