Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made two calls to US President Donald Trump on Thursday, urging him to consider military strikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen. This information was reported by Axios, citing two US officials. The calls signal a potential escalation in the ongoing conflict in the region, as tensions rise between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned Houthis.
Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of the US Central Command, travelled to Saudi Arabia on Thursday for urgent coordination talks, according to the report.
Trump rejected the request, and US officials said the administration does not intend to take direct military action against the Houthis at this time, the report said. The US is increasingly concerned about the rapidly escalating conflict in Yemen and is stepping up support for Saudi Arabia while seeking to avoid direct military involvement, according to Axios. The escalation dates back to early July, when the Houthis said their forces confronted Saudi “warplanes” that were attempting to prevent an Iranian civilian aircraft from landing at Sanaa International Airport.
