U.S. President Donald Trump rejected a request from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on September 10, 2026, to launch military strikes against Yemen’s Houthi movement. Trump directed American forces to stay focused on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz instead, according to reports citing U.S. officials.
Crown Prince Calls Twice as Maritime Tensions Mount
Trump declined the request, and U.S. officials indicated that Washington has no plans at this time to initiate direct strikes against the group.
The diplomatic outreach follows weeks of mounting regional friction. The escalating naval crisis traces back to early July, when Houthi forces confronted Saudi warplanes that were attempting to prevent an Iranian civilian aircraft from landing at Sanaa International Airport. In response to ongoing threats to commercial shipping, Saudi Arabia has sought to build an international coalition to protect vessels traversing the Red Sea.
Washington Diverts Focus to Iran and the Strait of Hormuz
U.S. military and civilian officials have communicated a clear operational priority to their Saudi counterparts in recent weeks. President Trump’s standing directive keeps American forces concentrated on containing Iran and safeguarding the vital Strait of Hormuz, avoiding the commitment of military resources to open an entirely new combat front in Yemen.
While declining to launch offensive strikes, the U.S. administration is stepping up non-strike support for Riyadh amid deep concerns over the rapidly deteriorating security environment.
Strait of Hormuz Traffic Dwindles Amid Regional Friction
The diplomatic refusal unfolds against a backdrop of severe maritime disruption across the Gulf waterways. Preliminary shiptracking data showed that only seven ships transited the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, dropping sharply from 11 vessels the previous day and falling well short of the 10-day average of 15 transits.
Gulf foreign ministers plan to meet with their Iranian counterpart in an initiative led by Oman and Iran to secure support for a temporary management agreement governing commercial traffic through the strait. Simultaneously, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that four unknown projectiles struck two vessels four nautical miles west of Khasab, Oman, igniting a fire on one ship while leaving the status of the second vessel unconfirmed.
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