Trump Declined Saudi Requests for Houthi Strikes

President Donald Trump said Iran-aligned Houthi forces had asked the United States not to intervene as their offensive expanded along Yemen’s Red Sea coast toward the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Reports citing U.S. and regional sources say Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman twice requested U.S. airstrikes, but Trump declined direct military action. Washington is providing Saudi Arabia with intelligence, geospatial targeting assistance and real-time battlefield information, while more than 100 U.S. advisers are reportedly deployed there; American forces are not directly participating in strikes or providing operational support such as aerial refueling. The Houthi advance, including reported control of coastal areas, Mocha and strategic islands, has raised concerns about commercial shipping, Saudi oil exports and Iran’s leverage over another major maritime chokepoint. Saudi Arabia temporarily shut its East-West oil pipeline after attacks it attributed to Iran-backed forces, while Trump said Iran was probably responsible.