President Donald Trump called off planned US airstrikes against the Houthis in Yemen on Sunday despite a renewed request for military intervention from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as administration officials raised concerns about widening the conflict and further straining US munitions supplies.
Military commanders had approved targets and munitions had already been loaded onto warplanes before Trump halted the operation by midday Sunday, The New York Times and Axios reported.
Most members of Trump’s inner circle were either strongly skeptical of or directly opposed to entering Saudi Arabia’s fight against the Houthis, according to a senior administration official cited by the Times. Officials were concerned that another sustained military campaign could place additional pressure on US forces already involved in the conflict with Iran.
The Houthis had also signaled to Washington that they would refrain from targeting US vessels in the Red Sea. Trump said indirect communications through Oman indicated that the group wanted to avoid a direct confrontation with the United States.
Bin Salman had reportedly asked Washington 10 days earlier to provide military assistance against the Houthis. Trump rejected that request but agreed to provide intelligence support.
The latest decision comes as fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis has intensified along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. The Houthis have also launched ballistic missiles and drones at Saudi infrastructure, including targets near Riyadh and Yanbu.
Washington has continued supporting Riyadh without directly joining its military campaign against the Houthis. The United States recently approved a major arms sale that includes F-35 fighter jets and has continued providing Saudi Arabia with intelligence and advisory assistance.
