Trump baulked Yemen request to provide military support against Houthis
U.S. President Donald Trump has declined requests from the Yemeni government and Saudi Arabia to provide military support against Houthi rebels. Despite pressure and prepared airstrikes, Trump has opted to avoid deeper military involvement in the region.
Why it matters
The decision highlights a shift in U.S. foreign policy regarding Middle Eastern conflicts and the administration's reluctance to engage in new military escalations.
Amid widening war in the Middle East, US President Donald Trump spoke by phone with Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi on Sunday as the Iran-backed Houthis continued their advance around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital waterway linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.According to news agency Reuters, Al-Alimi sought US military support for his Saudi-backed government in its fight against the Houthis, who have seized key areas near the strategic waterway in a rapid offensive this month. However, Trump did not make a direct commitment to provide military backing.The call was made amid growing pressure from Saudi Arabia and Yemen on the Trump administration to intervene against the Houthis.
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