US President Donald Trump has reportedly rejected a request from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for American strikes against Houthi fighters in Yemen, according to news outlet Axios.
The development comes amid a sharp escalation in fighting in Yemen, where the Iran-backed Houthis, who have controlled large parts of northern Yemen for years, launched a major offensive against Saudi-backed government forces last week.
The offensive reportedly killed hundreds of people and has heightened concerns over the security situation in the region.
Saudi Arabia has responded with dozens of airstrikes against Houthi positions, with Houthi media reporting that the latest two strikes hit an airport on Friday.
According to Axios, citing two unidentified US officials, the Saudi crown prince spoke with Trump on Thursday to brief him on the worsening military situation in Yemen as Houthi forces advanced towards the coastal city of Mokha.
The crown prince reportedly contacted Trump again several hours later to request US strikes against the Houthis, but the American president declined the request.
Despite refusing to launch direct strikes, Washington is expected to provide Saudi Arabia with intelligence on Houthi activities and targeting information.
A US official cited by Axios said more than 200 American military personnel are already stationed in Saudi Arabia, where they are providing “non-kinetic support.”
Riyadh had said in July that it was capable of dealing with the Houthis independently despite the growing intensity of the conflict.
The situation escalated further on Friday when Houthi fighters reportedly seized a strategic Red Sea island located in the Bab al-Mandab strait, completing an advance aimed at gaining control of a waterway that is important to Saudi oil exports.
The conflict in Yemen has increasingly become intertwined with the wider Middle East crisis, which erupted following US-Israeli strikes on Iran and subsequent moves by Tehran to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, another major route for global energy shipments.
The escalating tensions have also triggered concerns in international oil markets. Both Brent crude, the main international oil benchmark, and US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) were trading above $100 per barrel on Friday.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Brad Cooper also travelled to Saudi Arabia on Thursday for urgent coordination meetings, Axios reported.
The reported decision by Trump not to authorise direct strikes against the Houthis comes as Washington balances its support for Saudi Arabia with the broader risks of becoming more deeply involved in the expanding regional conflict.
Source: Axios
