MWE Correspondent
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made two urgent calls to U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday, asking Washington to launch military strikes against Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement as the group advances toward a critical Red Sea shipping route, according to Axios.
The appeals came as the security situation in Yemen deteriorated sharply, with Houthi forces seizing the strategic coastal city of Mokha and moving closer to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints.
Despite Riyadh’s requests, the Trump administration is reluctant to open another major U.S. military front in Yemen, with Washington increasingly focused on its confrontation with Iran.
A senior Trump administration official told Axios that the immediate U.S. priority is keeping the Red Sea open while leaving the broader fight against the Houthis to regional partners. The position reflects Washington’s concern that direct American intervention could widen an already expanding Middle East conflict.
The Saudi request represents a significant shift in Riyadh’s approach. Earlier in the year, Saudi Arabia had indicated that it was prepared to manage the Houthi threat without direct U.S. military intervention. The latest appeals came after Saudi-backed Yemeni forces were reportedly forced to retreat as Houthi fighters advanced along the western coast.
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The renewed Houthi offensive has raised concerns far beyond Yemen. Control or disruption of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait could threaten commercial shipping between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, potentially affecting global energy supplies and international trade.
The crisis has also emerged as the United States remains heavily engaged in its wider confrontation with Iran. Washington has been attempting to contain Iranian influence while maintaining pressure on Tehran’s military and energy networks.
The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, have increasingly become another pressure point in the regional conflict. Their attacks on Saudi Arabia have already targeted cities and energy infrastructure, with dozens of people reportedly injured earlier this week.
The escalation has also pushed oil prices higher, adding another layer of economic pressure to the crisis. Global markets are closely watching developments around both the Bab el-Mandeb and the Strait of Hormuz, two vital routes for international energy shipments.
For Saudi Arabia, the growing Houthi threat presents a difficult security challenge. Riyadh must protect its territory and energy infrastructure while avoiding a conflict that could expand into a broader confrontation involving Iran, the United States and other regional powers.
The Trump administration’s decision to prioritize the Iran confrontation while urging regional allies to manage the Houthi threat could therefore become a defining factor in the next phase of the Middle East conflict.
For now, Washington appears determined to prevent the Red Sea from being closed while avoiding another large-scale American military campaign in Yemen.
