MBS Urged Trump to Strike Houthis; Trump Declined — SkimNews
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- Mohammed bin Salman placed two calls to President Trump on Thursday, urging him to launch strikes against the Houthis as the Iran-backed group closed in on a vital Red Sea chokepoint, two U.S. officials told Axios.
- Trump declined the Saudi crown prince's request to authorize military strikes against the Houthis, per the U.S. officials cited.
- The Houthis, described as Iran-backed, were closing in on a Red Sea chokepoint at the time of MBS's calls, according to the officials.
Why it matters: Saudi Arabia is publicly pressing for U.S. military strikes against the Houthis as the Iran-backed group closes in on a Red Sea chokepoint. Trump's refusal, despite MBS personally lobbying for intervention, means Riyadh must address the Red Sea threat without direct U.S. military backing.
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