According to reports, two US officials revealed that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman telephoned President Trump twice on Thursday to urge him to launch an attack on the Houthis. This Iran-backed armed force is approaching a key waterway in the Red Sea. Trump rejected the proposal, and US officials stressed that the current administration currently has no plans to directly send troops to interfere with the Houthis. The Houthis have taken over a strategic coastal city in Yemen and moved closer to the Mander Strait. The strait is a major channel for global trade and Saudi oil exports. Affected by this news, oil prices rose sharply on Thursday. Iran is already interfering with shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. If the Houthis take control of the Mander Strait, Tehran will hold another important bargaining chip to counterbalance the US and its Gulf allies. The United States is concerned about the rapidly escalating fighting situation in Yemen, and is increasing its support for Saudi Arabia while trying to avoid direct military intervention. Two people familiar with the matter said that US Central Command Commander Admiral Brad Cooper went to Saudi Arabia on Thursday to hold an emergency coordination meeting.

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