Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly called US President Donald Trump twice and urged Washington to launch strikes against the Houthis in Yemen amid an escalation in the conflict, according to a report by Axios.
The reported request came as Saudi Arabia faces growing confrontation with the Iran-backed Houthi group and disruption around the Red Sea, a key route for global shipping and Saudi oil exports.
MBS sought US strikes against Houthis
According to the Axios report, MBS contacted Trump on two occasions and asked the US to launch military strikes against the Houthis amid their blockade of a vital Red Sea chokepoint.
Trump reportedly expressed concerns about the conflict in Yemen but declined to order US strikes against the group.
Two US officials cited in the report said the Trump administration currently has no plans to intervene directly against the Houthis.
People familiar with the matter also said US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper travelled to Riyadh for what were described as “urgent coordination meetings”.
Neither the White House nor the Saudi government has issued an official comment on the report.
How Saudi-Houthi conflict escalated
The confrontation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis reportedly intensified in July 2026 after Riyadh prevented an Iranian aircraft carrying a senior Houthi official from landing in Sana’a, according to the report.
The Houthis subsequently began attacking Saudi tankers in the Red Sea, threatening a key route for the kingdom’s oil exports amid the wider disruption linked to the Strait of Hormuz.
Saudi Arabia and its allies in Yemen have responded with airstrikes and ground operations against the Houthis.
The Houthis have also launched attacks targeting Saudi territory and the state-owned oil giant Aramco.
Conflict marks major escalation
The latest flare-up marks the most serious confrontation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis since the UN-brokered ceasefire of 2022 collapsed.
The developments are unfolding against the backdrop of the broader West Asia conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States, adding to concerns over regional security and the safety of critical energy and shipping routes.
