Trump Abruptly Cancels Airstrikes Against Yemen's Houthis

President Donald Trump abruptly canceled a series of planned airstrikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen, despite recent discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and munitions already loaded onto fighter jets. The "New York Times," citing senior U.S. officials, reported that the aircraft were prepared for takeoff when Trump changed his mind.

Bin Salman had urged Trump to launch the strikes to aid Saudi Arabia's campaign in Yemen during a call about a week and a half prior. However, two U.S. officials had previously told "Axios" that the Trump administration was not inclined toward direct military action against the group at that time.

Despite the initial hesitation, something apparently shifted, as fighter jets were readied and a target list was approved, according to "The New York Times." The newspaper suggested the call influenced the President, who then ordered the Pentagon to prepare for an attack before again reversing his decision. The White House declined to comment, but a senior U.S. official affirmed, "The U.S. has a defense agreement with Saudi Arabia. We will always defend our allies."

The decision to call off, or at least postpone, the strikes is partly due to Washington's concern that opening another front could complicate the parallel campaign against Iran. Trump had recently stated he was "open to the possibility" of meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani at the UN General Assembly, while also noting, "Things are going to happen, big things. It would be good for Iran to behave."

Saudi Arabia's request was significant for Trump, who recognizes the need for their assistance against Iran. Anonymous U.S. military officials told "The New York Times" that the U.S. cannot do without Saudi Arabia, which has shown willingness to exert pressure if its ally does not cooperate against the Houthis. As an example, they recalled Saudi Arabia blocking a U.S. plan in May to escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz by refusing the U.S. military access to its airspace.

Other officials indicated that if the U.S. had joined the campaign, it might have coincided with a planned ground offensive by Yemen's legitimate government forces. However, these forces have not proven effective against the Houthis, and U.S. officials doubted the impact of supporting a "dysfunctional" force repeatedly defeated by the rebels. Some U.S. military commanders warned that limited strikes would not defeat the Houthis, who have withstood nearly two months of continuous U.S. bombing in the past.

Adding to the complexity, Reuters reported that U.S. officials met with Houthi representatives in Oman the previous week, shortly after the Iran-backed militia seized a strategic Red Sea coastal strip. During this meeting, the Houthis reportedly informed the U.S. they intended to avoid attacking American vessels in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which they effectively control. According to Reuters, the meeting, which was not publicly announced but confirmed by three sources, took place at the U.S. Embassy in Muscat. The Houthis also stated their commitment to the 2025 ceasefire with the U.S. and affirmed they would not attack American ships. One Yemeni source told Reuters that the militia also indicated they would not attack Israeli or other commercial vessels, except for those belonging to Saudi Arabia.