Trump Considered Yemen Strike, Cites Saudi Prince's Plea

President Donald Trump considered launching an attack against the Houthi rebels in Yemen over the weekend but ultimately decided against it for the time being, according to two senior U.S. officials. Trump was reportedly torn between a desire to assist his ally, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and an aversion to getting entangled in a new Middle Eastern conflict.

Earlier reports indicated that Trump spoke with Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi, who requested U.S. assistance in combating the Houthis. Trump did not commit to providing aid during this conversation. The U.S. has been concerned about Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, including a recent incident where a gas tanker was hit by a projectile outside the Strait of Hormuz, though the tanker continued to its destination without casualties.

In parallel, Iran's Revolutionary Guard issued a new threat, stating that "the arrogant U.S. and the Zionist regime must come to terms with a region clean of their presence." They warned of "resolute and destructive responses" if their forces miscalculate the enemy's strength.

Meanwhile, in Israel, the IDF reported attacking targets in Gaza in response to Hamas activating a roadside bomb against an engineering vehicle. No casualties were reported from the bomb. Earlier, two terrorists planning an imminent attack were apprehended by the Duvdevan unit during the holiday.

In a separate development, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump administration is preparing extensive sanctions against the International Criminal Court in The Hague, which could paralyze its operations by restricting most transactions, including those in U.S. dollars.