Archive · 13 Sep 2026
Trump Says Houthis Asked U.S. Not to Intervene
Donald Trump said Yemen’s Houthi fighters asked the United States not to attack them.
He said the Houthis did not want to fight American forces.
The Houthis have reportedly captured Yemen’s Red Sea coast, including Mocha and three islands.
This gives them control near an important shipping route.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly asked Trump twice to order strikes against the Houthis.
Trump reportedly refused those requests.
Fighting between the Houthis and Yemen’s government forces has intensified.
The fighting has forced tens of thousands of people to leave their homes and has killed more than 500 people, according to reported figures.
Donald Trump said Yemen’s Iran-allied Houthis contacted Washington and did not want to fight the United States.
The Houthis reportedly captured Yemen’s entire Red Sea coast, including Mocha and three strategic islands.
Axios reported that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman twice sought U.S. strikes against the Houthis, but Trump declined.
The Houthis declared a maritime blockade of Saudi Red Sea ports and attacked Saudi oil facilities with drones and missiles.
Renewed fighting has displaced 76,000 people since July and killed more than 500, according to reported figures.
- Who
- U.S. President Donald Trump, Yemen’s Houthi movement, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Yemen’s government forces, and affected civilians.
- What
- Trump said the Houthis asked the United States not to intervene, while Saudi Arabia reportedly sought U.S. strikes against them amid renewed fighting.
- When
- Trump made the remarks on Saturday; the reports describe attacks and fighting during the same week, with additional Houthi claims reported on Sunday.
- Where
- The conflict is centered in Yemen, especially along its Red Sea coast, Mocha, Taiz, and areas near the Saudi border; Trump spoke in Dublin, Ireland.
- Why
- The articles link the escalation to Houthi territorial gains, attacks on Saudi interests, and renewed fighting with Yemen’s government forces.
Trump’s Nonintervention Position
Saudi Arabia’s Call for Action
Whether the United States should strike
Trump’s Nonintervention Position
Trump said the Houthis did not want to fight the United States and reportedly declined Saudi Arabia’s requests for U.S. strikes.
Saudi Arabia’s Call for Action
Axios reported that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman asked Trump twice for U.S. military strikes against the Houthis.
Assessment of the regional situation
Trump’s Nonintervention Position
Trump said that “everything’s gonna work out fine and dandy” and indicated that direct U.S. intervention was unnecessary.
Saudi Arabia’s Call for Action
Saudi Arabia faces reported Houthi attacks on oil facilities and other targets, while Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces are fighting the Houthis.
Responsibility for recent attacks
Trump’s Nonintervention Position
The Houthis said Saudi aircraft conducted 129 airstrikes over 48 hours on areas under their control.
Saudi Arabia’s Call for Action
Yemen’s government forces reported strikes on Houthi positions near Mocha and in Taiz, while Saudi authorities reported a Houthi projectile near the border.
- Trump’s statement
- Trump said the Houthis called Washington and did not want to fight the United States.
- Reported Saudi request
- Axios reported that Mohammed bin Salman called Trump twice on Thursday to request U.S. strikes; Trump declined.
- Houthi territorial gains
- The Houthis reportedly captured Yemen’s entire Red Sea coast, Mocha, and three strategic islands.
- Strategic waterway
- The reports said the gains strengthened Houthi control near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a shipping route linking Europe and Asia.
- Saudi attacks
- The Houthis reportedly declared a maritime blockade of Saudi Red Sea ports and attacked Saudi oil facilities with drones and missiles.
- Displacement
- The UN’s migration agency reportedly said 76,000 people had fled the fighting since July; about 1,400 had fled to Djibouti.
- Reported casualties
- More than 500 people have been killed, according to sources on both sides.
