Saudi Crown Prince Asks Trump to Strike Houthis

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called President Trump twice on Thursday, urging him to launch strikes against the Houthis as the Iran-backed group closed in on a vital Red Sea chokepoint. The Houthis have seized a strategic coastal city in Yemen, pushing them closer to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital artery for global trade and Saudi oil exports.

Trump declined the request, and U.S. officials stressed that the administration has no plans to intervene directly against the Houthis for now. However, the U.S. will provide Saudi Arabia with intelligence on the Houthis and targeting data. Roughly 200 U.S. military personnel are already in Saudi Arabia providing non-kinetic support.

The situation in Yemen has escalated rapidly, with the Houthis taking control of a key island in the strait and smoke seen over the key east-west Saudi oil pipeline. The U.S. is concerned about the fight in Yemen and is stepping up support for Saudi Arabia while trying to avoid direct military involvement. Adm. Brad Cooper, the commander of U.S. Central Command, traveled to Saudi Arabia on Thursday for urgent coordination meetings.

The conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis reignited in July after Riyadh prevented an Iranian plane carrying senior Houthi officials from landing in Sanaa. The Houthis retaliated by attacking Saudi tankers in the Red Sea, threatening a crucial route for the kingdom's oil exports.