Saudi-Houthi Conflict, Mohammed bin Salman Seeks Trump’s Military Support Against Houthis

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sought military assistance from US President Donald Trump on Thursday to help counter Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis, according to three sources familiar with the matter, as the group intensified its threat to the Red Sea.

Trump spoke with the Saudi crown prince at least twice on Thursday but declined to approve US strikes against the Houthis, the sources said. Washington instead offered to share intelligence and assist with targeting, they added.

The White House did not respond to questions about whether the two leaders had spoken. However, a senior US administration official said Washington remained in constant communication with Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s internationally recognised government.

“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 resolving regional security challenges,” the official said.

Saudi Arabia’s government media office did not immediately comment on the reported calls. Two sources also said US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper traveled to Saudi Arabia on Thursday for discussions.

The request from Mohammed bin Salman was first reported by Axios.

Saudi Appeal Signals Shift in Approach

The Saudi appeal represents a change from Riyadh’s earlier position. In July, Saudi Arabia told Washington it was capable of confronting the Houthis on its own and stressed that the conflict should not escalate. Saudi officials also urged the United States to intensify economic pressure on Iran.

However, a former senior US official familiar with the developments said the crown prince’s latest outreach was aimed at determining whether Washington could increase military pressure on the Houthis rather than leaving Riyadh to confront the group alone.

“So far, they’ve been told no, but watch that space,” the former official said.

The development comes as the Houthis have made significant advances along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. Four Yemeni government sources said the group reached the strategic island of Perim in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Friday.

Control of the Bab el-Mandeb, one of the world’s key maritime chokepoints, could provide Iran with a major strategic advantage by disrupting another vital shipping corridor and potentially driving global oil prices higher.

Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, has increasingly relied on the Red Sea route after the Iran conflict effectively disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies previously passed.

Tensions between Riyadh and the Houthis escalated in early July when Houthi forces confronted what they said were Saudi aircraft attempting to prevent an Iranian civilian plane from landing at Sanaa International Airport. The confrontation ended a four-year truce between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned group.

Meanwhile, the broader US-Iran conflict has entered its seventh month, contributing to higher global oil and US gasoline prices and putting further pressure on the Trump administration ahead of the November midterm elections.

The United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, while Iran retaliated with strikes targeting Israel and Gulf states hosting US military bases. The fighting, along with Israeli attacks on Lebanon, has killed thousands and displaced millions.