Saudi Crown Prince Urged Trump to Strike Houthis, Axios Reports

September 11, 2026 at 11:45 AM1 min

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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called U.S. President Donald Trump twice on Thursday to request strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen, Axios reported. Trump declined direct military support, saying the U.S. priority is confronting Iran and opening the Strait of Hormuz. The Pentagon sent CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper to Saudi Arabia for consultations.

Key Facts

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called President Trump twice on Thursday to request strikes on Houthi positions, Axios reported.
Trump declined direct military support, citing the U.S. priority of confronting Iran and opening the Strait of Hormuz.
The Pentagon sent CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper to Saudi Arabia for consultations on Thursday.
Houthi forces launched a new offensive in southwestern Yemen in early September, targeting areas near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Saudi Request

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called U.S. President Donald Trump twice on Thursday to request strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen. The request came as Houthi activity intensified, according to Axios sources. Trump declined direct military support, stating that the U.S. priority at this stage is confronting Iran and opening the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. Response

The Pentagon sent Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, to Saudi Arabia for consultations on Thursday. The visit came amid escalating tensions in Yemen.

Yemen Escalation

The situation in Yemen sharply deteriorated in early September when the Houthi movement launched an offensive in the southwest of the country. Houthi forces began missile and drone strikes on Red Sea coastal areas and near the city of Taiz. Their goal was to cut routes to the city of Mokha and advance toward areas near the strategically important Bab el-Mandeb Strait.