BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 21. US President Donald Trump appears reluctant to open another front in the Middle East as Washington remains in contact with Yemen’s Houthis amid escalating fighting between the group and Saudi Arabia. Trump has said the Houthis contacted the United States and indicated that they did not want a confrontation with Washington.
Reports indicate that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has sought US military assistance against Houthi targets in Yemen. According to US media reports cited by Reuters and other outlets, Trump initially instructed the Pentagon to prepare for strikes after speaking with the crown prince, but the planned operation was called off before it was carried out.
Trump’s unexpected early return from Camp David had fueled speculation that he was preparing to oversee a possible military operation. However, by Sunday, the administration had decided not to launch the strikes, at least for the time being. The White House has not publicly detailed the president’s deliberations.
The decision comes as Washington maintains channels of communication with the Houthis. A senior Houthi official said the group had assured the United States that it would not target American vessels, while Trump has separately said Washington is in communication with the group and that the Houthis do not want to fight the US.
The developments suggest that the Trump administration is seeking to avoid expanding direct US military involvement in Yemen while American forces are already engaged elsewhere in the region. Reports say concerns within the administration include the strain that another military front could place on US forces amid the continuing conflict involving Iran.
