Trump said to reject Saudi request for strikes on Houthis, as they complete Bab el-Mandeb takeover

MBS called US president twice as Iran-backed Yemeni group advanced on key coastal city of Mocha, report says; Iran-backed rebels widen their hold at waterway vital to global energy shipping

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly called US President Trump twice Thursday and urged him to launch strikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen, the Axios outlet reported, citing two US officials.

Trump rejected the request, and US officials said the administration does not intend to take direct military action against the Houthis at this time, the Friday report said.

It was published hours before AFP reported, citing a local government official and eyewitnesses, that the Houthis have taken over a Red Sea island that is located in the middle of the Bab al-Mandeb shipping lane, causing the Yemeni government’s military to withdraw and completing the rebels’ push to control the area.

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Source: https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-said-to-reject-saudi-request-for-strikes-on-houthis-as-they-seize-red-sea-island/?fbclid=IwY2xjawUXtuFwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR69cm_-HfVhU3midLb1P-5u6GbEHiJMJEgu0n5j3_rnV2arKQvAiV4rcqirkA_aem_GZh_O2fgXjx5GGSHHDYKbA