Archive · 22 Sep 2026
Trump Declines Military Support for Yemen Against Houthi Advances
Donald Trump spoke with Yemen’s president about the Houthis.
The Houthis have recently captured important places near a major sea route.
Yemen’s president asked the United States to help fight them.
Two sources said Trump did not promise military support.
Another report described this as Trump rejecting the request.
Trump has said the Houthis are communicating with the United States.
The Houthis reportedly said they would not attack U.S. ships or bases.
Officials in Washington and Yemen did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Donald Trump spoke by phone with Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi on Sunday, Sept. 21, according to four sources.
Alimi requested U.S. support for Yemen’s Saudi-backed, internationally recognized government against the Iran-backed Houthis.
The Houthis have captured territory and key positions near the Bab al-Mandeb strait, including Mocha, Dhubab and Perim.
Two sources said Trump made no direct pledge of military support; another report characterized this as rejecting Alimi’s request.
Trump has said the Houthis would not target U.S. shipping, while the White House and Yemen’s information minister did not immediately comment.
- Who
- U.S. President Donald Trump and Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi discussed the Houthi conflict.
- What
- Alimi requested U.S. support against Houthi advances; sources said Trump made no direct military-support pledge, while one report called this a rejection.
- When
- Sunday, Sept. 21; the Houthis’ advances occurred in recent weeks.
- Where
- During a phone call concerning Yemen and areas around the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
- Why
- Alimi sought help for Yemen’s Saudi-backed government as the Houthis captured territory near the strategic waterway.
Yemeni Government’s Appeal
Reported U.S. Nonintervention
Military assistance
Yemeni Government’s Appeal
Rashad al-Alimi requested U.S. support for his Saudi-backed, internationally recognized government’s fight against the Houthis.
Reported U.S. Nonintervention
Two sources said Trump made no direct pledge of military support, while one report said he rejected the request.
Response to Houthi advances
Yemeni Government’s Appeal
The Yemeni government sought help as the Houthis captured territory and positions near the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
Reported U.S. Nonintervention
Trump has maintained that he will not strike the Houthis and has rebuffed Saudi requests for military support, according to the reports.
Houthi assurances
Yemeni Government’s Appeal
The reports describe the Houthis as advancing along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and tightening control around a major maritime chokepoint.
Reported U.S. Nonintervention
U.S. officials reportedly received assurances from Houthi representatives that the group would not attack U.S. bases or U.S.-linked ships.
- Call participants
- Donald Trump and Rashad al-Alimi
- Reported date
- Sunday, Sept. 21
- Main request
- U.S. support for Yemen’s government against the Houthis
- Reported U.S. response
- Two sources said there was no direct pledge of military support; another report described the request as rejected
- Houthi advances
- The Houthis captured Mocha, Dhubab and the island of Perim, according to one report
- Strategic waterway
- The Bab al-Mandeb is described as carrying about 12% of global seaborne oil and 30% of container traffic
- U.S. position
- Trump has said the Houthis would not target U.S. shipping, and the United States has designated them a terrorist organization
