Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has requested military assistance from US President Donald Trump to aid the fight against Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels. Three sources familiar with the matter disclosed this information to Reuters on Friday.
The sources stated that Trump spoke with the Saudi leader by phone at least twice on Thursday. However, he did not agree to the US launching direct attacks on the Houthis. The sources added that Washington has offered to assist Riyadh by sharing intelligence and helping to identify targets. The White House did not directly answer Reuters’ questions regarding whether a phone call took place between the two leaders; however, a senior US administration official noted that Washington maintains ongoing communication with the governments of Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
The official stated that the US is prioritizing the protection of its core national security interests—such as ensuring freedom of navigation in the Red Sea—while simultaneously enhancing the capacity of regional partners to lead in addressing and resolving regional security challenges. The Saudi government’s media office did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment regarding the phone call and the discussions between the two leaders.
Meanwhile, Admiral Brad Cooper, a commander at US Central Command (CENTCOM), visited Saudi Arabia on Thursday. Two of the sources confirmed that he held meetings with Saudi officials during the visit.
