Trump Aborts Last-Minute Strike Against Yemen's Houthis Amid Saudi Appeals

The Trump administration prepared to launch airstrikes against Yemen's Houthi rebels on Monday, following further appeals from Saudi Arabia, but ultimately called off the attack at the last minute, according to The New York Times. U.S. military forces had already loaded bombs onto aircraft designated for the strike.

Reuters reported that Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi, supported by Saudi Arabia, spoke with President Trump by phone regarding the conflict. Al-Alimi reportedly requested U.S. military assistance against the Houthis, but Trump did not commit to providing it. This Saudi request comes amid the Houthis' new control over the Bab el-Mandeb strait, which endangers a key alternative route Saudi Arabia uses for oil exports, bypassing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

The escalating conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis presents a dilemma for Trump, who faces pressure to aid Saudi Arabia, a close U.S. ally, but fears further expanding the war, especially given the unpopularity of the war he initiated against Iran earlier in the year. The U.S. previously bombed the Houthis for two months in early 2025 before Trump ordered a halt to attacks after an ceasefire was reached, and he has since avoided involvement.

Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, speaking on the 12th anniversary of their takeover of Sanaa, advised Turkey, Pakistan, and other nations against intervening in Yemen to support Saudi Arabia, warning of severe consequences. He claimed the Saudis were trying to involve these countries, as well as the U.S. and Israel, in a broader offensive against Yemen. He also stated that the Houthis would significantly increase their support for Palestinians in any escalation against them.

Simultaneously, Houthi Defense Minister Mohammed al-Atifi and Chief of Staff Youssef al-Madani issued a joint statement vowing a "decisive response" to any Saudi attack and a "siege" in response to the ongoing blockade. They warned that any Saudi escalation would be met with costly actions impacting Saudi Arabia's depth and strategic interests. Houthi political leader Mahdi al-Mashat also stated in a recorded speech that their options would escalate and become more painful, while asserting that shipping and global trade in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb strait remain safe, except for Saudi vessels.

Fighting continues on the ground, particularly in Taiz. Pro-Saudi Yemeni forces claimed to have regained control of the strategic Mount Naaman in western Taiz province after clashes. The Houthi military spokesperson claimed the Saudi air force conducted at least 28 airstrikes across Yemen, focusing on Taiz, Al Jawf, and Marib. On Saturday, the Houthis attacked Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh, for the first time, with reports of a fire and thick smoke near the international airport and a hit on an Aramco oil facility nearby.