Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged President Donald Trump in recent calls to authorize U.S. military strikes against the Houthis in Yemen, CBS News and Axios reported Friday, citing officials and other people familiar with the talks.
Trump has so far declined to involve U.S. forces directly, according to CBS. The administration instead offered intelligence and targeting support. CBS also reported that U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper was in Saudi Arabia on Friday for coordination talks, though a CENTCOM spokesperson declined to confirm his whereabouts.
The discussions come as Houthi forces have advanced along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and strengthened their position near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. CBS reported that Saudi officials were seeking a broader coalition and were concerned that Iran could retaliate against the kingdom if the Houthis were attacked.
The talks remain fluid, and the reports rely on unnamed sources. The White House and Saudi Embassy did not publicly confirm the crown prince’s request. The available reporting establishes an offer of nonkinetic U.S. support, not a decision to launch American strikes.
