U.S. Refuses Strikes on Houthis, Leaving Saudi Arabia to Fight Alone in Red Sea Pivot
Devangi Chandok, Jadetimes Staff
Rapid and dramatic military advances by Iran-backed Houthi fighters in Yemen, including the seizure of a strategic Red Sea island, have dealt a severe blow to a Middle East already reeling from the broader U.S. war with Iran, escalating an global energy crisis and leaving regional allies exasperated over Washington’s refusal to directly intervene.
Despite warnings from intelligence officials and regional partners that the militia aims to gain full control over the vital Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Trump administration has signaled it has no intention of deploying American forces for direct kinetic strikes. Instead, Washington is relying entirely on Saudi Arabia and its local allies to stem the tide, offering only intelligence sharing and target-data support.
However, Saudi Arabia's military effort has proved ineffective. Even with heightened U.S. support and a decade of American military training provided to Yemeni government forces, Saudi-backed troops have failed to halt the Houthi movement as it pushes through key coastal territories.
A Unilateral Red Line
President Donald Trump has set a clear policy stance: no direct U.S. combat operations against the rebel group. Speaking to reporters in Ireland recently, Trump brushed off pressure to launch American strikes.
"The Houthis called us and they don’t want to fight with us," Trump said. "They don’t want us to go after them and would much prefer not having us involved and they’re letting most ships go through." He added that the rebels were focused on a single nation, Saudi Arabia, and expressed confidence that "we'll get that straightened out".
Trump’s stance has sparked sharp criticism from foreign policy veterans and regional partners who view it as a surrender of American deterrence. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has appealed directly to Trump twice in recent days, requesting U.S. airstrikes to halt the offensive, but those requests have been rebuffed.
Barbara Leaf, a former senior U.S. diplomat, described Trump’s public rhetoric as "shocking."
"It’s a pretty harsh way to treat your relationship with a close partner, to appear to privilege your agreement with a group you’ve designated as a 'Foreign Terrorist Organization' that attacked that partner," Leaf said, noting that the administration officially designated the Houthis as an FTO in March 2025.
Deepening Regional Instability
The ongoing clash between Saudi forces and the Houthis, who are backed and trained by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has shattered the relative calm achieved under a 2022 UN-brokered truce. Recent weeks have seen dramatic escalations: Riyadh accused the Houthis of targeting Islam’s holiest site in Mecca, while the Houthis claimed responsibility for shooting down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet.
Former American ambassador Joey Hood pointed out that while the Houthis operate with local autonomy, their ties to Tehran make them a critical variable in the broader regional war.
"Iran is in an existential battle now and pulling on all of their proxies to fight," Hood said. "The Houthis are not remote-controlled by Iran, but they need fuel from them."
The breakdown in security around Yemen is causing severe fallout elsewhere. A crucial diplomatic meeting between Iran and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was canceled after Saudi Arabia refused to attend. The decision was driven by frustration over active Houthi strikes and skepticism toward a proposed Omani-Iranian deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Regional sources say Saudi Arabia is now insisting on a comprehensive, all-or-nothing security arrangement before proceeding with further talks.
Saudi Arabia Pushed to the Limit
The geopolitical strain comes at a time when Riyadh is already overextended. Managing complex military logistical operations, securing alternative trade corridors, and addressing a recent attack on its East-West pipeline have stretched the Kingdom's resources thin. Moreover, Saudi Arabia’s recent cut to oil exports toward Europe for September has further intensified fears of a lingering world energy shortage.
Military analysts suggest that halting the Houthis' push toward the Bab al-Mandeb Strait would require significant ground operations or a explicit commitment of American force. With Washington explicitly pulling back, regional partners warn that the lack of U.S. deterrence leaves little leverage to resolve the crisis.
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