Trump Rejects Houthi Strikes
Trump Declines Saudi Request for Direct Military Strikes Against Houthi Forces
Anonymous
Key Points
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The latest Saudi-Houthi escalation reportedly began in July after Riyadh prevented an Iranian aircraft carrying senior Houthi officials from returning to Sanaa following the funeral of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Riyadh then sought Trump’s political backing for a possible strike on Sanaa airport, while saying it did not need direct U.S. military assistance at the time.
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About 200 U.S. military personnel are already stationed in Saudi Arabia, providing non-kinetic support, according to a U.S. official cited in the reports.
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Mokha is approximately 80 kilometers from the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a waterway through which about 12% of the world’s goods typically pass. Houthi forces reportedly pushed Saudi-backed government troops south toward Dhubab, opposite Perim Island at the strait’s entrance.
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Oil prices rose sharply amid concern that the fighting could threaten the Bab al-Mandab, particularly as Iran was already disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The combined pressure on both waterways could give Tehran and its allies additional leverage over the United States and Gulf states.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called President Donald Trump twice on September 10 to request direct U.S. military strikes against Houthi forces advancing toward the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a chokepoint through which 12% of global trade passes. Axios reported that Trump declined both requests, saying Washington wants to focus on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz instead. The decision marks a major shift — Saudi Arabia now needs American help after claiming it could handle the Houthis alone just months earlier.
Houthi forces captured the strategic port city of Mokha on September 10, just 80 kilometers from the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The advance pushed Saudi-backed Yemeni troops southward and triggered urgent talks between U.S. Central Command Admiral Brad Cooper and Saudi officials. Oil prices jumped above $105 per barrel on fears that the Red Sea chokepoint could be disrupted while Iran already destabilizes shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Saudi Arabia's Sudden Reversal on Military Aid
In July 2026, Saudi Arabia prevented an Iranian aircraft carrying senior Houthi officials from landing in Sanaa after attending the funeral of Iran's former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Riyadh responded by striking Sanaa airport and asked Trump for political backing but said it didn't need direct American military help. The situation deteriorated rapidly as Houthi forces seized Mokha and advanced toward the Bab al-Mandab. That battlefield collapse forced Riyadh to reverse course and call Trump twice on September 10 demanding kinetic support.
According to Reuters, Saudi officials framed the Houthi push as an existential threat to Saudi oil exports and regional security. The Crown Prince emphasized that without American strikes, Iranian-backed forces would control a vital global shipping route. Washington's reluctance forced Riyadh to launch its own retaliatory strikes on Mokha airport while absorbing the full military burden of containing the Houthis.
Why Trump Is Avoiding Another Yemen War
The Trump administration is unwilling to open a second military front while managing tensions with Iran across the Persian Gulf. A senior official stated that Washington prioritizes "ensuring freedom of navigation in the Red Sea" while letting regional partners lead military operations. The U.S. already has about 200 military personnel in Saudi Arabia providing intelligence and targeting data. Trump believes this approach protects American interests without getting trapped in another regional conflict.
Strategic analysts note that simultaneous disruptions of both the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab Strait would give Iran and its allies unprecedented leverage over global energy and commerce. By staying focused on the Hormuz corridor, Trump is betting that containing Iran remains the priority and that Saudi Arabia can manage the Houthis independently with American intelligence support.
The Bab al-Mandab's Massive Global Importance
The Bab al-Mandab Strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and handles roughly 12% of the world's goods annually. Disruption would spike shipping costs, insurance premiums, and energy prices globally. Saudi Arabia depends on the strait to export oil, making Houthi control a direct threat to Riyadh's economy and influence. Oil prices surged past $105 per barrel on September 10 as traders feared the chokepoint could fall under hostile control.
Houthi forces now occupy Mokha, positioned just 80 kilometers from the strait's entrance near Perim Island. Middle East Online reported that they pushed Saudi-backed Yemeni troops south toward Dhubab, consolidating control of Yemen's western coast. If the Houthis seize the Bab al-Mandab, they would control shipping for one of the world's largest economies and a critical energy supply route for Europe and Asia.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens as Fighting Intensifies
The renewed coastal fighting has displaced roughly 46,000 Yemeni civilians according to UN estimates. Relief agencies warn that continued combat threatens access to Red Sea ports vital for delivering food and medicine to millions of Yemenis. Saudi retaliatory strikes on Mokha airport on September 11 further restricted humanitarian corridors in a nation already devastated by years of civil war.
The Trump administration's decision to avoid direct strikes means Saudi Arabia will likely sustain the military campaign alone, prolonging the conflict and deepening the humanitarian toll. Houthi retaliation targeting Saudi oil infrastructure continues, creating a cycle of escalation that threatens both regional stability and global energy supplies.
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