Saudi Arabia's MBS pressed Trump to strike Houthis in Yemen, sources say

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has urged President Trump to authorize American military action against Yemen’s Houthi movement, according to two people familiar with the sensitive discussions. The request comes as the Iran-aligned group has moved quickly down Yemen’s Red Sea shoreline, sharpening Saudi concerns about a conflict that could spread beyond Yemen.

The crown prince and Trump have held several conversations in recent days as conditions worsened, the people said. Saudi Arabia’s appeal places Washington at the center of a rapidly evolving regional calculation: Riyadh wants stronger protection against possible fallout, while the United States is weighing how deeply it should enter another military confrontation.

Trump has not agreed to send U.S. forces into direct combat against the Houthis, the sources said. Instead, the administration has offered intelligence assistance and help identifying targets. The distinction leaves Saudi Arabia with support from Washington but without the direct American intervention that bin Salman has sought.

The contacts have continued alongside military coordination. Adm. Bradley Cooper, who leads U.S. Central Command, visited Saudi Arabia on Friday for discussions, according to one source. A Central Command spokesperson would not discuss where Cooper was at the time. The accounts of the talks came from people granted anonymity because of the sensitivity of the exchanges.

Saudi officials are trying to assemble a broader partnership to counter the Houthis and to shield the kingdom should Iran respond to any attack on the group, one person familiar with the matter said. That concern reflects a wider uncertainty over whether a strike on the Houthis could prompt Tehran to target Saudi territory, drawing additional countries into the confrontation.

The Houthis’ recent capture of Mokha, a strategically important port, has increased their foothold near the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Yemen’s government said Friday that the group had also taken the two remaining islands in the strait that had been outside its control. Those gains could give the Houthis greater influence around a waterway vital to maritime traffic between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The security risk has coincided with renewed anxiety in energy markets. Oil traded near $100 a barrel during the previous week, its highest level since July, and some analysts warned that ongoing combat in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea could push prices toward $120. Any prolonged disruption near key shipping routes would have implications well beyond the countries directly involved.

U.S. officials have signaled continued scrutiny but not a public commitment to a broader operation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that Washington was watching developments in Yemen closely. A senior administration official said the United States was prioritizing core security interests, including freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, while encouraging regional partners to lead efforts to manage regional security problems. The official added that Washington remained in ongoing contact with Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s internationally recognized government.

The deliberations are taking place as the U.S.-Iran conflict has intensified. This week, U.S. forces destroyed five Iranian oil tankers after Iranian forces fired ballistic missiles at a U.S. Navy vessel, according to prior CBS News reporting. Iran also launched missiles at a U.S. base in Jordan overnight from Tuesday into Wednesday, damaging several American aircraft; U.S. forces there fired more than 30 Patriot missiles in defense.

Trump has publicly emphasized that the United States possesses powerful military capabilities while also indicating that he had expected to use them less. He has said Iran will not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon. Sources familiar with the internal discussions said he has been hesitant to widen the U.S. military commitment unless he judges it necessary. The Saudi-American talks remain unsettled, leaving open questions about the scope of any further support and whether Riyadh can form the coalition it seeks.

Source: CBS World