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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called US President Donald Trump twice on Thursday, September 11, urging him to launch strikes against Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels as the group advanced along the Red Sea coast and seized the strategic port city of Mocha, according to Axios.
Trump has reportedly declined the request for now.
The calls came as the Houthi advance brought the group closer to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical maritime chokepoint linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and a key
route for trade and energy shipments between Asia and Europe.
US officials told Axios that Washington is increasing support for Saudi Arabia but does not currently plan to launch direct military action against the Houthis. US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper travelled to Saudi Arabia on Thursday for urgent coordination talks, the report said.
