Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has personally pressed President Trump to authorize military action against Houthi forces in Yemen. According to two sources familiar with the matter, the crown prince and Mr. Trump have held multiple phone conversations in recent days as Houthi forces advanced along the Red Sea coast. Despite the request, sources said Mr. Trump has so far declined to involve the U.S. military in direct action, offering instead to assist with intelligence and targeting support.
The Saudi push for U.S. intervention follows a series of Houthi military gains, including the recent seizure of the port of Mokha and the final two islands in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. One source stated that the kingdom is attempting to build a coalition to protect against potential Iranian retaliation if the Houthis are attacked. This diplomatic activity occurs as U.S. and Iranian forces have engaged in direct hostilities, including the U.S. destruction of five Iranian tankers and Iranian missile strikes on a U.S. base in Jordan.
Military coordination appears to be ongoing, as Adm. Bradley Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, traveled to Saudi Arabia for talks on Friday. While a CENTCOM spokesperson declined to comment on the admiral's location, a senior administration official stated that the U.S. remains in "continuous dialogue" with Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted on Wednesday that the U.S. is monitoring the situation "very closely."
The scale of the conflict involves thousands of military personnel and billions of dollars in equipment. In recent days, U.S. forces in Jordan launched more than 30 Patriot missiles to intercept Iranian strikes that damaged multiple American aircraft. The Houthi control of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, combined with Iranian pressure on the Strait of Hormuz, threatens two critical maritime chokepoints. This could disrupt the flow of oil, potentially leading to fuel shortages or further price spikes.
The legal authority for U.S. domestic policy remained a point of debate at a Thursday convention, where Mr. Trump suggested he might not need congressional approval to provide $5,000 dividends to citizens using tariff revenue. Legal experts noted that Congress holds the power of the purse. The next steps in Yemen depend on U.S.-Saudi talks and Houthi advances. As of Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, the U.S. has maintained a position of providing support short of direct combat.