US President Donald Trump rejected a request from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to launch American strikes against Yemen’s Houthis, Axios reported, citing two US officials.
According to the report, the Saudi crown prince called Trump twice on Thursday and urged him to authorise military action against the Houthis as tensions continue to escalate in Yemen and the Red Sea.
Trump declined the request, Axios said. US officials cited in the report said the administration currently has no plans to launch direct military action against the Houthis.
The report could not immediately be independently verified. The White House and the Saudi embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment outside regular business hours.
Axios said Washington is increasingly concerned about the worsening conflict in Yemen and is seeking to expand support for Saudi Arabia while avoiding direct US military involvement.
Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, travelled to Saudi Arabia on Thursday for urgent coordination talks, according to the report.
US military and civilian officials have also told their Saudi counterparts in recent weeks that Trump has ordered American forces to remain focused on Iran and securing the Strait of Hormuz, while avoiding the opening of another military front.
Reuters reported in July that Saudi Arabia was seeking to establish an international coalition to protect Red Sea shipping from Houthi attacks amid rising tensions in and around Yemen.
The latest escalation dates back to early July, when the Houthis said their forces confronted Saudi warplanes that were attempting to prevent an Iranian civilian aircraft from landing at Sanaa International Airport.
