The United States has rejected Saudi Arabia’s request for direct military strikes against the Houthis in Yemen after the Iran-aligned group captured the strategically important coastal city of Mocha, according to a report by Axios, an American website.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly contacted US President Donald Trump twice within a short period as Houthi forces advanced towards the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a critical maritime passage linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, the crown prince initially informed Trump that allied Yemeni forces were retreating before making a formal request for direct US military intervention several hours later.
Trump declined the request, citing Washington’s focus on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz and the need to avoid opening another military front, Axios reported.
Although the White House ruled out direct US air strikes, Washington agreed to provide Saudi Arabia with non-combat assistance, including actionable intelligence and targeting information to support Saudi military operations against the Houthis.
The United States also has around 200 military personnel stationed in Saudi Arabia in advisory and liaison roles. US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper travelled to the kingdom on Thursday for consultations with senior Saudi defense officials.
The decision comes as tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis escalate. Speaking before the UN Security Council, Saudi Ambassador Abdulaziz Alwasil said Riyadh would take “all measures necessary” following Houthi attacks on civilian locations in southern Saudi Arabia that reportedly wounded 73 people earlier this week.
The capture of Mocha and surrounding coastal areas has heightened concerns over the security of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The waterway is one of the world’s key shipping routes, connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and providing access to the Suez Canal.
Yemen has witnessed renewed fighting between government forces and the Houthis since early July, following several years of relative calm under a truce that began in April 2022.
The Houthis have controlled the capital, Sanaa, and large parts of northern and western Yemen since 2014. The internationally recognized Yemeni government and its allies retain control over much of the south and east.
Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition backing Yemen’s government against the Houthis since 2015. Riyadh’s latest appeal for direct US intervention highlights growing concerns over the group’s expanding military presence near one of the world’s most strategically important maritime routes.
