Saudi Crown Prince demands US strikes on Houthis as they seize Red Sea strait
Facing Houthi territorial gains and a crippled oil pipeline, Riyadh pressed Trump for direct military intervention. Trump declined, offering only intelligence support instead.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called President Trump twice on Thursday to urge immediate US military strikes against Iran-backed Houthis as the group tightened control over Yemen's Red Sea coast. Trump declined direct intervention but agreed to provide military assistance, including targeting help and intelligence sharing. The Crown Prince's urgent appeals mark a dramatic reversal from July, when Saudi Arabia had told Washington it could handle the Houthis independently. On the same day, drone strikes—sourced from Iraq according to Saudi statements—forced the shutdown of the kingdom's critical East-West pipeline, which normally carries 4–5 million barrels per day to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. The pipeline had become vital after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz in late February. Friday's territorial gains completed a rapid Houthi push down Yemen's coast, culminating in the seizure of Perim Island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the port city of Mokha. Oil prices surged above $100 per barrel for the first time in months, closing the week up 8 percent. Saudi Arabia said it would not retaliate for the pipeline strikes following an appeal from Iraq's prime minister, while reserving the right to take future protective measures.
How could this affect you
Traced by who's actually in the path of this — not everyone is.
Direct
Global energy traders and consumers
Houthi control of Bab el-Mandeb combined with the East-West pipeline shutdown removes the primary alternative route for Saudi oil exports, constraining global supply and pushing prices higher. Oil already broke $100/barrel on the announcement.
Likely
US and Gulf allies
Iran now controls or influences two major oil chokepoints—the Strait of Hormuz and potentially the Bab el-Mandeb—giving Tehran leverage over energy supply and pricing at a moment when the US is in active conflict with Iran. This could constrain Trump's strategic options and increase pressure for deeper US military commitment.
Possible
Military planners in the US and region
Trump's refusal of direct strikes suggests Washington wants to limit new escalation even as Houthi gains accelerate. If the Saudi-backed Yemeni government continues losing ground, the gap between Riyadh's requests and US willingness to act could widen, potentially pushing Saudi Arabia to pursue unilateral or coordinated regional responses.
Sources
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