Trump "abandoned" the Saudis before the war with the Houthis - assessment

Saudi Arabia signals readiness for a large-scale military operation against Yemen's Houthis, even without direct US support. The Trump administration is not yet ready to deploy troops, offering only intelligence and assistance in target identification. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed the situation twice with Trump, seeking direct intervention but not insisting on it as a prerequisite.

Saudi Arabia has signaled readiness to conduct a large-scale military operation against Yemen's Houthis (Ansar Allah) even without direct support from US President Donald Trump. A final decision on launching the campaign has not yet been made. The Trump administration is not yet ready to directly deploy American troops, offering Riyadh intelligence and assistance in identifying targets for strikes. The US position may change if the threat to shipping in the Red Sea significantly increases. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed the situation twice with Trump on Thursday, seeking direct military intervention but not indicating he considers it absolutely necessary. Saudi Arabia was visited by the commander of US Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper. The article also notes that the Houthis have established control over Yemen's western coast and previously captured the island of Zugar in the Red Sea.