Saudi Arabia urges Trump to act as Houthis seize Red Sea positions

Saudi Prince calls Trump twice as Houthis seize Mocha, Riyadh wants US strikes against Iran-backed rebels — but Trump is reluctant to open another front as America is already stretched by the Iran war

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called Donald Trump twice seeking US military strikes against Iran-backed Houthi forces as the rebels seized the strategic Red Sea port of Mocha and pushed towards one of the world's most important shipping chokepoints.

But Trump said no.

The extraordinary appeals from Riyadh came as Houthi forces rapidly advanced along Yemen's Red Sea coast, taking Mocha and moving towards the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the narrow gateway linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.

The Houthis have since reached the strategic island of Perim, tightening their grip on the approaches to the vital waterway.

For Saudi Arabia, this is potentially a nightmare.

The kingdom is already dealing with the consequences of the wider war with Iran, while the Strait of Hormuz — on the opposite side of the Arabian Peninsula — has become severely disrupted.

Now Iran's Houthi allies are threatening the other major maritime gateway.

Trump does not want another war

According to sources cited by Reuters and Axios, MBS made two calls to Trump on Thursday urging the US president to authorise strikes against the Houthis.

Trump declined to launch direct American attacks.

Instead, Washington has offered Saudi Arabia intelligence and targeting assistance while allowing regional allies to take the lead. US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper has also travelled to Saudi Arabia for discussions.

The decision appears to reflect a much bigger problem facing Washington.

The United States is already fighting Iran.

Opening a major new campaign against the Houthis would mean another demand on American aircraft, warships, missiles, intelligence assets and personnel at precisely the moment US forces are already heavily committed elsewhere in the region.

There is also no guarantee that another bombing campaign would stop the Houthis.

The group has spent years rebuilding its military capabilities and has already demonstrated that it can survive sustained attacks.

America is being stretched

The Telegraph's argument that Trump simply does not have the resources for another major Middle East front gives the Saudi request an important new dimension.

This isn't necessarily about Trump being unwilling to help Saudi Arabia.

It is about how many fires the United States can fight at once.

Hormuz is already a strategic priority.

US forces have to protect American interests, support operations connected with Iran and deal with the wider consequences of a war that has now dragged on for months.

And suddenly Riyadh is asking Washington to take on the Houthis as well.

For Trump, that creates an uncomfortable choice.

Allow Saudi Arabia and its allies to handle the Houthi threat — or commit American military power to another front and risk becoming even more deeply entangled in the Middle East.

Iran gets another weapon

For Tehran, the Houthi advance could provide an extremely valuable new lever.

Iran does not necessarily need the Houthis to completely shut the Bab al-Mandab.

Simply making the route dangerous enough for international shipping companies to avoid could have a major economic impact.

The Bab al-Mandab is only about 18 miles wide at its narrowest point and is the southern gateway to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.

If shipping is disrupted, vessels can be forced to make the much longer journey around Africa.

That means Iran could potentially put pressure on two major maritime arteries at the same time — Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab.

And that is precisely what Saudi Arabia fears.

The pressure on Trump will grow

The irony is that Trump now appears to be caught between two opposing pressures.

Saudi Arabia is asking him to strike.

The Houthis are advancing.

And America is already fighting Iran.

Trump has since said the Houthis contacted Washington and indicated they did not want the United States to intervene directly.

But that may not matter if the Houthi advance continues.

The longer the rebels remain in control of positions around Bab al-Mandab, the greater the threat to shipping, Saudi oil exports and the global economy.

For now, Trump is refusing to open another American front.

But if the Houthis tighten their grip on the Red Sea gateway, the question may soon stop being whether Trump wants to intervene — and become whether he can afford not to.

Sources: Fox News / The Telegraph

Looks like he is going to have to start a war on another front,

doubt this was factored in with the Iran war, just thought it was

going to be a 3 week sortie ,the Iran war must be the most won

war ever, like every week , they want a deal ,no they dont , they

know they just have to hang on for a few weeks ,when Donald

becomes a lame duck ... will he take responsibility for the mess

he has gotten the whole World in ,Hell no , I think Hegseth is

going to be the fall guy....

regards Worgeordie

45 minutes ago, Social Media said:

Saudi Arabia urges Trump to act as Houthis seize Red Sea positions

Saudi Prince calls Trump twice as Houthis seize Mocha, Riyadh wants US strikes against Iran-backed rebels — but Trump is reluctant to open another front as America is already stretched by the Iran war

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called Donald Trump twice seeking US military strikes against Iran-backed Houthi forces as the rebels seized the strategic Red Sea port of Mocha and pushed towards one of the world's most important shipping chokepoints.

But Trump said no.

The extraordinary appeals from Riyadh came as Houthi forces rapidly advanced along Yemen's Red Sea coast, taking Mocha and moving towards the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the narrow gateway linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.

The Houthis have since reached the strategic island of Perim, tightening their grip on the approaches to the vital waterway.

For Saudi Arabia, this is potentially a nightmare.

The kingdom is already dealing with the consequences of the wider war with Iran, while the Strait of Hormuz — on the opposite side of the Arabian Peninsula — has become severely disrupted.

Now Iran's Houthi allies are threatening the other major maritime gateway.

Trump does not want another war

According to sources cited by Reuters and Axios, MBS made two calls to Trump on Thursday urging the US president to authorise strikes against the Houthis.

Trump declined to launch direct American attacks.

Instead, Washington has offered Saudi Arabia intelligence and targeting assistance while allowing regional allies to take the lead. US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper has also travelled to Saudi Arabia for discussions.

Advertisement

The decision appears to reflect a much bigger problem facing Washington.

The United States is already fighting Iran.

Opening a major new campaign against the Houthis would mean another demand on American aircraft, warships, missiles, intelligence assets and personnel at precisely the moment US forces are already heavily committed elsewhere in the region.

There is also no guarantee that another bombing campaign would stop the Houthis.

The group has spent years rebuilding its military capabilities and has already demonstrated that it can survive sustained attacks.

America is being stretched

The Telegraph's argument that Trump simply does not have the resources for another major Middle East front gives the Saudi request an important new dimension.

This isn't necessarily about Trump being unwilling to help Saudi Arabia.

It is about how many fires the United States can fight at once.

Hormuz is already a strategic priority.

US forces have to protect American interests, support operations connected with Iran and deal with the wider consequences of a war that has now dragged on for months.

And suddenly Riyadh is asking Washington to take on the Houthis as well.

For Trump, that creates an uncomfortable choice.

Allow Saudi Arabia and its allies to handle the Houthi threat — or commit American military power to another front and risk becoming even more deeply entangled in the Middle East.

Iran gets another weapon

For Tehran, the Houthi advance could provide an extremely valuable new lever.

Iran does not necessarily need the Houthis to completely shut the Bab al-Mandab.

Simply making the route dangerous enough for international shipping companies to avoid could have a major economic impact.

The Bab al-Mandab is only about 18 miles wide at its narrowest point and is the southern gateway to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.

If shipping is disrupted, vessels can be forced to make the much longer journey around Africa.

That means Iran could potentially put pressure on two major maritime arteries at the same time — Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab.

And that is precisely what Saudi Arabia fears.

The pressure on Trump will grow

The irony is that Trump now appears to be caught between two opposing pressures.

Saudi Arabia is asking him to strike.

The Houthis are advancing.

And America is already fighting Iran.

Trump has since said the Houthis contacted Washington and indicated they did not want the United States to intervene directly.

But that may not matter if the Houthi advance continues.

The longer the rebels remain in control of positions around Bab al-Mandab, the greater the threat to shipping, Saudi oil exports and the global economy.

For now, Trump is refusing to open another American front.

But if the Houthis tighten their grip on the Red Sea gateway, the question may soon stop being whether Trump wants to intervene — and become whether he can afford not to.

Advertisement

Sources: Fox News / The Telegraph

Why haven't the Saudis made any attempt to stop the Houthi advancement? What good is their air force if it sits on the ground?

I doubt the Houthis can do more than disrupt, but maybe that is all Iran wants for now.

Cutting off the Bab al-Mandab Strait might be a step too far by widening the conflict unnecessarily.

A slow squeeze, disrupted shipping slowly, pressuring western economies, will be value enough for Iran.

10 minutes ago, Hawaiian said:

Why haven't the Saudis made any attempt to stop the Houthi advancement? What good is their air force if it sits on the ground?

The Saudis spent years bombing the Houthhis to little effect. They fear that if they attack unilaterally, the Houthhis will go for their infrastructure.

If they can involve the Americans, the conflict can be internationalised and focus on keeping the Strait open.

And NONE of this would be happening if the right people had been prosecuted for the Epstein crimes.

Saudi Prince calls Trump twice as Houthis seize Mocha, Riyadh wants US strikes against Iran-backed rebels — but Trump is reluctant to open another front as America is already stretched by the Iran war......

According to trump and his cabal of clowns, "there is no war....."

Realistically, you can punish from the air but you can't get rid of the problem, or do regime change, solely from airpower... you would have to do an ill-advised invasion with boots on the ground, and that would have as much support these days as a fox in a hen house.

Interesting that the country whose nationals led the twin trade towers attack (or failed to warn at the least) are now begging for help from their enemy. Perhaps when America was attacked they might at least have arrested the families of the Saudi pilots for interrogation.

49 minutes ago, bannork said:

The Saudis spent years bombing the Houthhis to little effect. They fear that if they attack unilaterally, the Houthhis will go for their infrastructure.

If they can involve the Americans, the conflict can be internationalised and focus on keeping the Strait open.

Doesn't that say something about the competence of the Saudis in prosecuting a war in their own back yard?

America has sold them billions in war equipment, seems they have a personnel problem.

41 minutes ago, bannork said:

The Saudis spent years bombing the Houthhis to little effect. They fear that if they attack unilaterally, the Houthhis will go for their infrastructure.

If they can involve the Americans, the conflict can be internationalised and focus on keeping the Strait open.

The Saudis were unfocused in their targets. Their previous bombing campaign resulted in tens of thousands of civilian casualties. Around 400,000 have died during the Yemen civil war from direct actions and indirectly from war related disease and famine. I don't think Trump wants to increase those numbers.

Trump actually has it right this time, with his reluctance to get involved. The Yemen- KSA conflict predates the USA-Iran issue. The Saudis were one of the local countries who encouraged the US intervention with Iran yet stood back and watched Israel and the USA do the dirty work. It's time the Saudis took care of their own defense needs. Trump knows that the USA should avoid getting involved in another conflict in the region.

Saudis are finding out that being Trump's "friend" only means he will eventually abandon you and throw you to the wolves. Doesn't matter if it's countries, treaty alliances, individuals, or voting blocs. Trump sooner or later will cut you loose and leave you twisting in the wind.

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

Doesn't that say something about the competence of the Saudis in prosecuting a war in their own back yard?

America has sold them billions in war equipment, seems they have a personnel problem.

So America has sold them billions of equipment .....they didn't really want
in return for protection which they aren't going to get !

Oh dear !

2 hours ago, bannork said:

The Saudis spent years bombing the Houthhis to little effect. They fear that if they attack unilaterally, the Houthhis will go for their infrastructure.

If they can involve the Americans, the conflict can be internationalised and focus on keeping the Strait open.

This latest advancement by the Houthis will emboldened them to attack Saudi infrastructure. They have already damaged Saudi oil refineries and pipelines.