Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has pressed President Trump to take military action against Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen. These forces have advanced swiftly along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. Two sources familiar with the situation revealed to CBS News that Trump and the crown prince have had numerous discussions recently about the escalating tension.
Despite bin Salman’s requests, Trump has refrained from involving the U.S. military directly. Instead, he has offered intelligence and targeting support. These details came from sources who chose anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the talks.
Adm. Bradley Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, was reportedly in Saudi Arabia for coordination talks. A CENTCOM spokesperson declined to comment on his location. The Saudi push aims to form a coalition against the Houthis, safeguarding the kingdom from possible Iranian retaliation. Concerns are rising about Iran’s possible response, especially if the Houthis are targeted. There is speculation on whether the U.S. would join Saudi Arabia in such scenarios.
Iran is under intense pressure from these subgroups because people think they gave up on Hezbollah and Hamas. If the Houthis are attacked, how will Iran respond? Do they hit Saudi Arabia? That’s why they’re building this coalition to protect them if Iran attacks.
The talks between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia remain in flux, according to sources. Axios initially reported the crown prince’s calls to Trump and the Saudi campaign for U.S. military assistance.
Recently, the Houthis captured the strategic port of Mokha, bolstering their presence around the crucial Bab al-Mandeb Strait. They also gained control of two critical islands in the strait, enhancing their influence over this chokepoint. Oil prices recently hovered around $100 per barrel, the highest since July. Analysts predict prices could surge to $120 per barrel if fighting continues in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea.
On Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the U.S. closely monitors the Yemen situation. While the State Department did not provide immediate comments, a senior administration official noted the U.S. focus on protecting national security interests, ensuring free navigation in the Red Sea, and empowering regional partners to handle regional security challenges.
The official confirmed ongoing discussions with Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s government concerning regional stability. Trump has shown hesitation to further involve the U.S. military unless absolutely necessary. During his speech at the Republican midterm convention, Trump emphasized the strength of the U.S. military, stating, We built the strongest military in the world. We use it a little more than I thought. But we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon, and they will never have a nuclear weapon.
Recent tensions between the U.S. and Iran spiked, with U.S. forces destroying five Iranian oil tankers after Iran targeted a U.S. Navy vessel with ballistic missiles. Tehran retaliated by striking a U.S. base in Jordan, damaging several American aircraft. U.S. forces responded with over 30 Patriot missiles to counter the Iranian attacks.
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