Trump Holds Back Direct Strikes on Houthis

The Trump administration has told Saudi Arabia it will provide major intelligence and targeting support but is not planning at present to carry out direct military strikes against the Houthis, two US officials told ABC News.

The officials said the position could shift if the risk to Red Sea shipping lanes escalates further. They added that the administration is continuing to monitor developments in Yemen closely, where fighting continues despite recent gains by the Houthis.

Intelligence and Targeting backing

One US official said the administration is offering “significant” intelligence and targeting assistance as part of its support for Saudi Arabia. The officials said the approach is aimed at reinforcing Saudi capabilities rather than launching immediate US attacks.

They cautioned that White House thinking could change quickly, particularly if Houthis expand actions that threaten the passage of vessels through the Red Sea area.

Visits and White House calls

As part of the support for Riyadh, the commander of US Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, travelled to Saudi Arabia for meetings on Thursday, one of the officials said. Central Command did not respond to requests for comment.

The Crown Prince, Mohammad bin Salman, spoke with President Donald Trump about the situation twice on Thursday, according to one of the officials. The official said the Saudi leadership was seeking US military intervention but did not suggest it was absolutely necessary.

A senior Trump administration official said in response that the US was focused on protecting its core national security interests, including freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, while enabling regional partners to take the lead in dealing with regional security challenges. The official said the administration is in continuous dialogue with Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Yemen government regarding regional stability.

Yemen, escalation risks and US monitoring

Another official said Saudi authorities had communicated in recent days a willingness to conduct a major operation against the Houthis even if it means acting without US backing, but that Riyadh had not yet made a final decision.

Both officials said earlier assessments on Friday indicated the Houthis had taken control of Yemen’s west coast. They said, however, that Yemeni government forces and aligned militias were still fighting back, leaving open the possibility that the situation could change rapidly without outside intervention.

Analysts cited by the officials said the Houthis and their Iranian backers know that attempts to restrict traffic in the Strait of Bab al-Mandeb would likely lead to a stronger response from Saudi Arabia, the US and potentially other countries. The Houthis have issued statements saying the strait remains open to commercial traffic, but analysts said attacks on Saudi-linked ships have increased the risk level for vessels.

Join the discussion?

12 September 2026