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Saudi’s MBS called Trump twice for strikes on Houthis. Why did president say no?
Confirmed
In Short: Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has personally contacted US President Donald Trump to seek military action against the Houthis, following their rapid advance along Yemen's Red Sea coast.
The Houthis, an Iranian-backed group, have made significant advances in Yemen, capturing the strategic port city of Mokha and consolidating their control over the entire coastline, according to military sources. This rapid expansion has raised concerns among regional powers, particularly Saudi Arabia, which has been relying on the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait for shipping oil to customers in Asia.
Saudi Arabia has responded to the Houthi advance by closing its east-west oil pipeline, a precautionary measure after multiple attacks on Thursday morning in the Riyadh and Medina regions. The pipeline, increasingly used by the Saudi authorities to transport oil, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, has been closed as a result of these attacks.
In response to the escalating situation, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has personally contacted US President Donald Trump to seek military action against the Houthis. According to reports, the Crown Prince has spoken to Trump multiple times in recent days about the escalating situation. The Saudi push is part of an effort to build a coalition against the Houthis and protect the kingdom against potential Iranian retaliation, as noted by a senior Trump administration official.
The Houthis have claimed a major advance on the western Red Sea coast, consolidating their grip on the key international shipping route. In a statement, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said that their military operation to expel Saudi-backed forces had been a "success" and that "maritime navigation is safe for all companies except for Saudi vessels." The Houthis have also launched missiles and drones at cities and oil facilities in southern Saudi Arabia, causing significant concern among regional allies.
Oil prices have surged to $100 a barrel for the first time since July, reflecting the impact of the Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure. A senior Trump administration official stated, "We are in continuous dialogue with Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Yemen government regarding regional stability." Meanwhile, Bradley Cooper, the commander of U.S. Central Command, was in Saudi Arabia for coordination talks on Friday, as reported by CBS News.
What's confirmed
- The Houthis, an Iranian-backed group, have made significant advances in Yemen, capturing the strategic port city of Mokha and consolidating their control over the entire coastline, according to military sources. This rapid expansion has raised concerns among regional powers, particularly Saudi Arabia, which has been relying on the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait for shipping oil to customers in Asia.
- Saudi Arabia has responded to the Houthi advance by closing its east-west oil pipeline, a precautionary measure after multiple attacks on Thursday morning in the Riyadh and Medina regions. The pipeline, increasingly used by the Saudi authorities to transport oil, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, has been closed as a result of these attacks.
- In response to the escalating situation, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has personally contacted US President Donald Trump to seek military action against the Houthis. According to reports, the Crown Prince has spoken to Trump multiple times in recent days about the escalating situation. The Saudi push is part of an effort to build a coalition against the Houthis and protect the kingdom against potential Iranian retaliation, as noted by a senior Trump administration official.
- The Houthis have claimed a major advance on the western Red Sea coast, consolidating their grip on the key international shipping route. In a statement, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said that their military operation to expel Saudi-backed forces had been a "success" and that "maritime navigation is safe for all companies except for Saudi vessels." The Houthis have also launched missiles and drones at cities and oil facilities in southern Saudi Arabia, causing significant concern among regional allies.
- Oil prices have surged to $100 a barrel for the first time since July, reflecting the impact of the Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure. A senior Trump administration official stated, "We are in continuous dialogue with Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Yemen government regarding regional stability." Meanwhile, Bradley Cooper, the commander of U.S. Central Command, was in Saudi Arabia for coordination talks on Friday, as reported by CBS News.
What's still developing
- Hundreds of people have reportedly been killed and thousands displaced in Yemen since the Houthis launched an offensive in the south-west a week ago.