Scoop: MBS urged Trump to strike Houthis amid Red Sea threat
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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) called President Trump twice Thursday, urging him to launch strikes against the Houthis as the Iran-backed group closed in on a vital Red Sea chokepoint, two U.S. officials told Axios.
- Trump declined, and U.S. officials stressed the administration has no plans to intervene directly against the Houthis for now.
Why it matters: Oil prices surged Thursday as the Houthis seized a strategic coastal city in Yemen, pushing them closer to the Bab al-Mandab Strait — a vital artery for global trade and Saudi oil exports.
- With Iran already disrupting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, Houthi control of Bab al-Mandab could give Tehran a powerful new point of leverage over the U.S. and its Gulf allies.
The latest: Reuters reported Friday morning that the Houthis had taken control of a key island in the strait.
- They also reported that smoke was seen over the key east-west Saudi oil pipeline, though the source was not clear.
Driving the news: The U.S. is concerned about the rapidly escalating fight in Yemen and is stepping up support for Saudi Arabia while trying to avoid direct military involvement.
- Adm. Brad Cooper, the commander of U.S. Central Command, traveled to Saudi Arabia on Thursday for urgent coordination meetings, two sources with knowledge of the matter said.
- The Saudi embassy in Washington and the White House declined to comment.
Catch up quick: The Saudi-Houthi confrontation reignited in July after Riyadh prevented an Iranian plane carrying senior Houthi officials home from the funeral of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei from landing in Sanaa.
- MBS asked Trump for political backing to strike the Sanaa airport, but made clear Saudi Arabia did not need U.S. military assistance. Trump gave him his support.
- The Houthis retaliated by attacking Saudi tankers in the Red Sea, threatening a crucial route for the kingdom's oil exports, and later expanded their attacks to Saudi energy facilities.
- Saudi Arabia and its Yemeni allies responded with airstrikes and ground offensives against Houthi positions.
Behind the scenes: Saudi Arabia's request for direct U.S. military action marks a sharp reversal from July, when Riyadh told Washington it could handle the Houthis on its own.
- As the fighting intensified, however, the Saudis began seeking increasing levels of U.S. support.
- U.S. military and civilian officials have told their Saudi counterparts in recent weeks that Trump's directive is to keep American forces focused on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz — and avoid opening another front, sources familiar with the discussions said.
On Thursday, as Houthi forces advanced on the coastal city of Mokha and Saudi-backed Yemeni forces retreated, MBS called Trump to brief him on the deteriorating situation, U.S. officials said.
- Several hours later, MBS called again and urged Trump to order U.S. strikes against the Houthis.
- Trump declined, but a U.S. official said the administration will provide Saudi Arabia with intelligence on the Houthis and targeting data.
- Roughly 200 U.S. military personnel are already in Saudi Arabia providing non-kinetic support, the official said.
What they're saying: A senior Trump administration official signaled that Washington's priority is keeping the Red Sea open while leaving the broader fight to its regional partners.
- "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.
- "We are in continuous dialogue with Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Yemen Government regarding regional stability."
Editor's note: This story has been updated with the latest developments.
