Why Trump Called Off Last-Minute US Strikes on Houthis Despite Saudi Appeal

• by Akanksha Mishra
• 2026-09-21 15:49:00

A dramatic diplomatic and military showdown unfolded in Washington as United States President Donald Trump pulled the plug on imminent, large-scale airstrikes against Houthi rebel targets across Yemen at the final hour. According to an investigative report published by The New York Times, Pentagon commanders had already approved exhaustive target directories and ground crews were actively mounting precision munitions onto warplanes slated for the mission. The sudden cancellation came in direct defiance of urgent pleas from key Middle Eastern partner Saudi Arabia, whose leadership had explicitly sought direct American military power to neutralize rapid Houthi territorial gains commanding critical chokepoints along the Red Sea coastline.

A High-Stakes Phone Call: Crown Prince MBS Pleads for Direct Air Support

The volatile geopolitical crisis escalated sharply following an urgent telephone call between Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Trump. Amid surging tensions with Tehran, the Crown Prince urged Washington to launch direct military intervention to halt advancing Houthi forces as they seized wide swaths of strategic territory from Yemen's internationally recognized government. While Trump had initially told his inner circle that he opposed entanglement in the prolonged confrontation between Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni militia, his conversation with the Crown Prince on Thursday prompted an immediate tactical shift, leading him to order Pentagon planners to prepare offensive air sorties. By Sunday, however, with combat aircraft readied on tarmacs and strike waves scheduled to launch, Trump reversed course again and completely shelved the operation.

White House Stance and Backchannel Guarantees: 'Houthis Agreed Not to Fight US'

While the White House avoided an official on-the-record proclamation, senior administrative insiders indicated that inner-circle advisors remain deeply wary of being dragged into Riyadh's battle against the Houthis, especially as American forces navigate escalating friction linked to Iran following extensive joint aerial campaigns launched on February 28. Speaking to Fox News, Trump asserted that backchannel communications with the Iran-aligned group yielded specific assurances that the Houthis would avoid targeting US assets in exchange for non-engagement. Citing his September 12 statements in Ireland where he revealed the group had reached out seeking de-escalation with Washington, Trump highlighted that direct pacts hold, even as Riyadh faces escalating security threats—underlined by a weekend missile fired toward the Saudi capital—and Washington weighs broader decisions regarding Iranian regional posture.

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