Trump Rebuffs Saudi Request for Strikes on Houthis, Axios Reports

President Donald Trump turned down direct appeals from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to conduct military strikes against Houthi militants in Yemen, according to reporting by Axios citing two U.S. officials.

The Saudi crown prince contacted Trump twice on Thursday as the Iran-aligned group advanced toward critical maritime corridors along the Red Sea. U.S. officials indicated that the White House has no immediate intention of committing to direct military intervention against Houthi targets.

The standoff carries major ramifications for global energy and trade supply chains. Houthi forces recently took control of a key coastal hub in Yemen, moving closer to the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Because the passage is essential for international commerce and Saudi crude exports, the operational shift prompted an immediate surge in global oil benchmarks on Thursday.

While seeking to prevent direct armed engagement, Washington is increasing strategic assistance to Riyadh. Adm. Brad Cooper, who heads U.S. Central Command, traveled to Saudi Arabia on Thursday for high-level coordination meetings with regional partners, two sources told Axios.

Representatives for both the White House and the Saudi embassy in Washington declined to provide comment on the matter to Axios.

Tensions between Riyadh and the Houthis intensified in July when Saudi officials blocked an Iranian aircraft carrying Houthi figures from landing in Sanaa. Although Trump previously offered diplomatic and political backing for Saudi operations targeting the Sanaa airport, the administration is withholding direct American firepower in the current flare-up.