U.S. President Donald Trump has declined urgent appeals from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for direct American military strikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels, according to a report published by Axios on Thursday.
Citing two U.S. officials, Axios reported that the Saudi crown prince called President Trump twice on Thursday amid a rapid Houthi advance along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. In the first call, Mohammed bin Salman briefed the president on the deteriorating situation as Houthi forces closed in on the strategic coastal city of Mokha (Mocha) and Saudi-backed Yemeni units retreated. Several hours later, the crown prince called again and formally urged Trump to authorize U.S. airstrikes.
Trump rejected the request. U.S. officials stated that the administration does not intend to take direct military action against the Houthis at this time, preferring to keep American forces focused on Iran and the security of the Strait of Hormuz while avoiding the opening of another combat theater.
Instead of kinetic strikes, the Trump administration has agreed to provide Saudi Arabia with intelligence on Houthi positions and targeting data. Approximately 200 U.S. military personnel are already in Saudi Arabia providing non-kinetic advisory and liaison support. U.S. Central Command Commander Admiral Brad Cooper traveled to Saudi Arabia on Thursday for urgent coordination talks with Saudi defense officials.
The Houthi advance toward the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical chokepoint for global shipping and oil exports, has heightened regional tensions and contributed to a surge in oil prices. A senior administration official told Axios that the United States remains committed to protecting freedom of navigation in the Red Sea while leaving the broader fight against the Houthis primarily to regional partners.
The White House and the Saudi embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment outside regular business hours. Reuters noted that it could not independently verify the Axios report.