Trump Rejects Repeated Requests From Saudi Crown Prince Amid Furious Houthi Attacks On Red Sea Oil Facilities | Today’s news
US President Donald Trump has ignored repeated requests from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for help dealing with the Houthi threat to his Red Sea oil infrastructure, according to a report from Axios. The crown prince has twice called the US president and urged him to launch strikes against the Iran-backed militant group, but Trump has refused to intervene directly, the report said, citing two US officials familiar with the matter.
The Houthis launched a major offensive last week against Saudi-backed government forces for the Bab al-Mandab strait as part of a push to capture the strategic coastal city in Yemen. The strategic Red Sea waterway is a vital artery for global trade and Saudi oil exports, and control of the Houthis could give Tehran additional leverage over the US and its Gulf allies.
The Houthis launched counterstrikes after Trump extended a call for political support to Saudi Arabia as the kingdom sought to attack Sana’a airport.
As fighting between Saudi-backed government forces and the Houthis escalated, the Saudi crown prince called Trump on Thursday to update him on the worsening situation. Hours later, another call followed, requesting US strikes against the Houthis, but Trump stood his ground, making sure to provide intelligence to help Riyadh target Houthi installations. There are currently about 200 US troops in the kingdom supporting Riyadh.
Why is the US avoiding direct military involvement in the Bab al-Mandab route?
Amid a dispute between the US and Iran over a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, Trump is trying to avoid opening another front in the war. The Trump administration’s priority is to retain the Red Sea and let regional partners resolve their broader struggle, a senior US official said.
“The United States is focused on protecting our core national security interests — such as ensuring freedom of navigation in the Red Sea — while empowering our regional partners to take the lead in managing and addressing regional security challenges,” Axios quoted a U.S. official as saying.
He added: “We are in constant dialogue with Saudi Arabia and the government of the Republic of Yemen regarding regional stability.”
Although the US tries to avoid direct military involvement, it supports Saudi Arabia with intelligence and non-kinetic support. The report also said CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper visited Saudi Arabia on Thursday for urgent coordination meetings.
On Friday, the Houthis completed their takeover of the Bab al-Mandab area by seizing a key Red Sea island in the middle of the strait, AFP reported.
