U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly reversed plans for military strikes against Yemen’s Houthi forces after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged Washington to intervene, according to reports emerging from U.S. officials and media outlets.
The developments come amid an escalating confrontation between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned Houthis along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. The Houthis have advanced toward strategically important areas near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a major maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
According to reporting by The New York Times, Mohammed bin Salman spoke with Trump on Thursday and again pressed the U.S. president to help counter the Houthi advance. Trump had reportedly told advisers the previous day that he did not favor direct U.S. involvement. Following the conversation with the Saudi crown prince, however, he instructed Pentagon officials to prepare for possible airstrikes.
The situation changed again over the following days. By Sunday, Trump had decided not to proceed with U.S. airstrikes against Houthi targets, at least for the time being. Reports said American military commanders had already prepared target lists and aircraft for a potential operation before the decision was reversed.
The decision followed earlier Saudi requests for American military assistance. Reuters reported that MBS had sought direct U.S. military support against the Houthis, while Washington offered intelligence-sharing and targeting assistance rather than immediately launching its own attacks.
The Trump administration has emphasized the protection of freedom of navigation and U.S. national-security interests in the Red Sea while encouraging regional partners to take the lead in addressing the Houthi threat.
The latest episode highlights the difficult balance facing Washington as it manages relations with Saudi Arabia while the wider Middle East remains affected by the U.S.-Iran conflict. Any direct American military campaign against the Houthis could potentially open another front in an already broader regional confrontation.
The Houthis have previously targeted shipping in the Red Sea, while Saudi Arabia has faced increasing pressure from attacks linked to the group. The Bab al-Mandab Strait remains strategically important because disruption there could affect international shipping and energy transportation.
For now, the United States has stopped short of launching the planned strikes, while diplomatic and security contacts between Washington, Riyadh and other regional actors continue.