US Rejects Saudi Plea for Strikes on Yemen's Houthis Amid Red Sea Gains

The United States has declined a request from Saudi Arabia to launch new strikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen, despite the group's significant advances near the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The decision comes as the Iran-backed Houthis have seized key positions, including the port of Mokha and Perim Island, potentially threatening a vital global shipping lane. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly called President Donald Trump twice on Thursday urging U.S. intervention, but Trump refused.

Washington maintains it is not planning direct military action against the Houthis, though it continues to provide intelligence support to Saudi Arabia. The Houthis' territorial gains are seen as a growing threat to Israel, which relies on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait as the southern gateway to the Red Sea for its trade routes, particularly to the port of Eilat. The rebels have previously demonstrated the capability to attack shipping in the Red Sea with missiles and drones, leading to a significant drop in maritime traffic.

The Houthis' consolidation of positions near the strait, which connects the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea and onward to the Suez Canal, raises concerns about their ability to exert pressure on global maritime trade, which normally handles about 12% of world commerce. This development occurs as Iran and its proxies are already disrupting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, creating a dual threat to critical Middle Eastern maritime chokepoints.

The U.S. refusal to engage militarily is reportedly due to a desire to avoid opening another front, especially with ongoing tensions with Iran and the crisis around the Strait of Hormuz. The Trump administration previously conducted a campaign of airstrikes against the Houthis in May 2025, which ended after the rebels agreed to cease attacks on U.S. vessels.