US Rejects Saudi Request for Military Support in Major Yemen Offensive

Key Facts

1The United States rejected a direct Saudi request for airstrikes to support an imminent ground offensive against Houthi rebels.

2Saudi-backed Yemeni forces are preparing to mobilize 100,000 troops to retake the Red Sea coast and Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

3Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman briefed Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth on the upcoming operation via phone.

The United States rejected a direct Saudi request for airstrikes to support an imminent ground offensive against Houthi rebels, Axios reported. Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman briefed Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth on the upcoming operation via phone, as Saudi-backed Yemeni forces prepare to mobilize 100,000 troops to retake the Red Sea coast and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

The military escalation follows Saudi efforts to secure Red Sea shipping lanes following recent Houthi gains. According to Reuters, the Kingdom is considering options ranging from a focused assault on the Bab el-Mandeb area to a broader offensive across multiple fronts, while the US administration remains cautious of direct kinetic involvement to avoid distracting forces engaged in other regional priorities.