Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has requested the United States to lead military action against the Houthi group in Yemen, as reported by Israel's official broadcasting authority, citing sources familiar with the development.
According to the report, the Saudi request was made during a meeting between Mohammed bin Salman and Gen. Brad Cooper, head of the US Central Command, earlier this month.
US Declines to Lead the Confrontation
The report indicated that Washington declined to lead the military campaign against the Houthis, especially since the group is not currently targeting American ships in the Red Sea.
However, the United States expressed readiness to support any military moves Saudi Arabia might undertake against the Houthis.
The US stance reflects a desire to avoid opening a new military front in the Middle East amid the region's multiple crises and conflicts.
Saudi Arabia Avoids the ‘Yemeni Quagmire’
The request from Saudi Arabia reportedly stems from Riyadh's desire to avoid direct re-engagement in the Yemeni war, especially given its previous experiences with the Houthis and the accompanying military and security implications.
The Kingdom aims to maintain a degree of maneuverability against the group without returning to a wide-scale military quagmire that could drain its resources and reopen a front it has worked in recent years to stabilize.
US Support Without Direct Leadership
The report suggests that Washington prefers to offer support to Saudi Arabia should it decide to undertake actions against the Houthis, instead of directly leading the operations.
This comes amid ongoing tensions in the Red Sea, where Houthi activities remain a major source of instability in regional maritime routes, while the United States seeks to limit its involvement in further military confrontations in the area.
Thus, Saudi-American discussions reveal a divergence in strategy: Saudi Arabia seeks to avoid a direct confrontation with the Houthis, whereas the US remains unwilling to lead a new military campaign against the group, while keeping the door open for supporting Riyadh.