WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump twice reversed his decision on launching airstrikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels over the weekend, according to a report by The New York Times.
Trump initially ordered preparations for strikes on Sunday after a direct appeal from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, but called them off hours later as bombs were being loaded onto aircraft. The reversal followed weeks of deliberation within the administration, with Trump publicly stating he was undecided on whether to join the fight.
The Houthis, an Iran-backed militant group, have escalated their offensive in recent weeks, seizing strategic highlands in Yemen’s highlands to cut off the Red Sea coast from Saudi-backed forces. On Saturday, the group claimed responsibility for missile and drone attacks on Riyadh, including near the capital’s airport, and a facility in Yanbu, a key oil export hub in the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia has not commented on the strikes.
Trump publicly asserted that the Houthis had agreed not to target U.S. forces, stating in recent remarks that Washington was in “constant communication” with the group. “The Houthis called us, and they don’t want to fight with us,” he said in a recent interview. “They would much prefer not having us involved, and they’re letting most ships go through.”
The administration’s shifting stance has raised questions about U.S. strategy in Yemen amid the broader Middle East conflict. While Saudi Arabia has repeatedly urged American intervention, Trump has described his options as ranging from military strikes to economic pressure or negotiations with Iran. He has also suggested that oil prices would remain elevated until after the November midterm elections.
The Houthis’ rapid advances have further threatened global energy supplies, extending the regional conflict to a new theater. Fighting has intensified in southwest Yemen, where the rebel group has made gains against Saudi-backed forces. The group’s stated goal is to pressure Saudi Arabia and its allies to end their involvement in the Yemeni civil war.
The White House has not responded to requests for comment on the reported reversals. The Pentagon’s Central Command did not immediately verify the details of the strike preparations or cancellations.