Trump rejected Saudi request for Yemen strikes, Axios says

US President Donald Trump rejected a request from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for strikes against Houthi fighters in Yemen, Axios reported Thursday, citing two unidentified US officials.

Axios reported that the Saudi crown prince called Trump on Thursday to tell him about the deteriorating military situation in Yemen as Houthi forces approached the coastal city of Mokha. The outlet said Mohammed bin Salman called Trump again a few hours later to request strikes on the Houthis, but Trump declined.

Washington will provide Saudi Arabia with intelligence on the Houthis and targeting data, and more than 200 US military personnel are already in Saudi Arabia providing “non-kinetic support”, Axios reported, citing a US official.

The Iran-backed Houthis, who have for years controlled large parts of northern Yemen, launched a large-scale offensive last week against Saudi-backed government forces, killing hundreds. Saudi Arabia has responded with dozens of airstrikes. Houthi media reported on Friday that the latest two strikes hit an airport.

On Friday, Houthi fighters seized a key Red Sea island in the middle of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, completing a push to take control of a waterway crucial to Saudi oil exports.

The fighting in Yemen has taken centre stage in the wider Middle East war, which erupted with US-Israeli strikes on Iran and prompted Iran to blockade the Strait of Hormuz. Brent North Sea crude and the US WTI oil contract were both above $100 on Friday.

Axios also reported that US Central Command chief Brad Cooper travelled to Saudi Arabia on Thursday for urgent coordination meetings.