Trump calls off planned US strikes on Houthis at last minute after Saudi plea - report

SEPTEMBER 21, 2026 20:10US President Donald Trump came close to ordering a new American military campaign against the Houthis in Yemen this weekend, after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman personally urged him to intervene, but called off the planned strikes as they were nearing execution, The New York NYT reported.According to the report, Trump had spent roughly two weeks weighing repeated Saudi appeals for US military assistance against the Iran-backed Houthis, whose renewed offensive has expanded the conflict in Yemen and increased pressure on Saudi Arabia.Trump had told advisers on Wednesday that he did not favor launching strikes. But after speaking with bin Salman on Thursday, he reversed course and instructed the Pentagon to prepare airstrikes against Houthi targets, according to administration officials cited by the NYT.By midday Sunday, however, Trump had changed his mind again.The planned US strikes were halted at a late stage, when military commanders had already approved target lists, troops were loading bombs onto aircraft selected for the operation, and the first wave of attacks was close to beginning, according to people briefed on the planning.US President Donald J. Trump makes an announcement on healthcare in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, US, September 18, 2026. (credit: REUTERS/Evan Vucci)Reuters separately reported Monday that Washington had considered strikes after renewed Saudi appeals but that Trump ultimately called them off. Reuters said it could not independently verify all details of the NYT report. CENTCOM referred questions to the White House.The White House declined to discuss Trump's deliberations on the record. A senior administration official told the NYT only that the United States has a defense agreement with Saudi Arabia and "will always defend our allies."Opposition inside Trump's teamThe deliberations exposed a broader dilemma for the administration as the war with Iran continues.Most members of Trump's inner circle were either deeply skeptical of or directly opposed to joining Saudi Arabia's fight against the Houthis, according to a senior administration official cited by the NYT. One concern was the additional strain that another sustained military campaign could place on US forces already involved in the conflict with Iran.At the same time, Washington continues to rely on Saudi cooperation in its broader regional strategy.According to the NYT, some US military officials have argued that Saudi support is important for the war with Iran. Saudi Arabia has also demonstrated its ability to deny Washington access it considers politically or strategically sensitive: In May, Riyadh effectively prevented a US plan to escort commercial tankers through the Strait of Hormuz by denying use of Saudi airspace and American bases in the kingdom, the newspaper reported.The issue has become more urgent as Houthi forces make territorial gains in Yemen.Reuters reported Monday that the group has seized Yemen's Red Sea coastline and is now pushing toward strategic highlands in Taiz and Lahij provinces. The advance threatens Saudi-backed forces and could further destabilize shipping near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world's most important maritime chokepoints.The Houthis also claimed missile and drone attacks on Riyadh over the weekend. Saudi forces said they intercepted a missile aimed at the capital and thwarted additional attacks elsewhere in the kingdom.Trump: Houthis agreed not to fight USThe potential US intervention comes despite Trump saying Sunday that Washington remains in direct communication with the Houthis and that the group has agreed not to fight the United States.In a phone interview with Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst, Trump said the US was in "constant communication" with the Houthis and that they had so far agreed not to attack American forces.That arrangement is part of what complicates a renewed US campaign.The Houthis stopped targeting American ships following the end of the previous US bombing campaign in May 2025. But an American official told the NYT that the understanding would likely collapse if Washington resumed airstrikes.The United States conducted more than 50 days of strikes against the Houthis in the spring of 2025 in an effort to restore freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and stop attacks on commercial and US naval vessels.During that campaign, CENTCOM struck more than 1,000 targets, including air-defense systems, radars, ballistic-missile sites, drone launch areas, and a drone production facility near Sanaa.The campaign consumed roughly $1 billion in US weapons and munitions during its first month alone, according to the NYT. The Houthis continued launching attacks and shot down several American drones during the operation.Trump abruptly ended the campaign less than two months after it began, saying at the time that the Houthis had promised to stop firing on American ships.Current and former US diplomats and commanders interviewed by the NYT expressed doubts that another limited air campaign would force the group to negotiate or abandon its demands. They also questioned whether Saudi-backed Yemeni ground forces would be capable of exploiting US airstrikes.For now, Trump has again chosen not to enter the fight directly.But with the Houthis advancing, Saudi Arabia seeking American military help, and Washington simultaneously relying on Riyadh in its confrontation with Iran, the question of US intervention in Yemen remains unresolved.Follow us on Google