Trump rejects Saudi request for military strikes in Yemen

On Thursday, September 10, 2026, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held two phone conversations with U.S. President Donald Trump, requesting that the United States launch airstrikes against the Ansar Allah rebel movement, known as the Houthis, in Yemen. According to sources cited by Axios, President Trump rejected the request, and U.S. officials indicated that there are currently no plans for direct American military intervention against the group.

The request followed the Houthi forces' capture of a strategic coastal city in Yemen, bringing them closer to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This waterway is vital for global trade and the export of Saudi oil. The advance of the Iran-backed militia has sparked concerns over maritime security and caused an immediate rise in global oil prices.

While the United States continues to provide intelligence and targeting data to support Saudi Arabia, Washington is reportedly attempting to avoid opening a new military front in the region. The situation remains volatile as both the U.S. and Saudi leadership monitor the potential for Iran to utilize the strait as a secondary point of pressure.