Trump Claims Houthis Agree Not to Fight US Amid Rising Saudi Attacks
- President Donald Trump claimed that Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement has agreed not to target the United States, even as the militant group expands its grip on critical Red...
- This strategic takeover puts the group in control of much of Yemen's Red Sea coastline and territory within the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital shipping chokepoint connecting the...
- While the Houthis have reportedly signaled an avoidance of hostilities with Washington, their military operations against U.S.
President Donald Trump claimed that Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement has agreed not to target the United States, even as the militant group expands its grip on critical Red Sea shipping lanes and intensifies attacks across the region, according to reporting from Fox News.
Houthi Control Over Red Sea Shipping Chokepoints
This strategic takeover puts the group in control of much of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline and territory within the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital shipping chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Despite these aggressive maritime moves, President Trump stated during a September 12 meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin in Dublin that the group reached out to Washington to signal it wants to avoid a direct conflict with American forces. Trump added that the militants prefer not to have the U.S. get involved and are generally allowing most ships to pass through the strait.
Escalating Attacks on Saudi Oil Infrastructure
While the Houthis have reportedly signaled an avoidance of hostilities with Washington, their military operations against U.S. allies in the region have escalated. On September 19, a missile targeted the Saudi capital of Riyadh, according to verified reporting. This follows an incident on September 11 where multiple drone strikes hit Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline, forcing a temporary shutdown of the critical energy corridor. Saudi Arabia and Iraq stated that the drones used in the pipeline attack originated from Iraqi territory and were launched by Iran-backed militias operating there, as reported by the New York Post. President Trump stated that he believes Iran is likely responsible for the pipeline assault. “I think they are, probably they are,” Trump said regarding Iranian involvement, adding that Tehran’s forces are under considerable pressure.
Diplomatic Stance and Regional Outlook
The mounting strikes on Saudi infrastructure open a new front in the ongoing conflict involving Iran and its regional proxies. The Houthi advances around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait give Tehran’s allies additional leverage over global energy shipments, particularly as traffic through the Strait of Hormuz faces separate security pressures. Fox News reported that Trump remains in a decisive posture regarding Iran, noting that big developments could occur in the near future. During his discussions with Fox News reporter Trey Yingst, Trump emphasized that Iranian leadership needs to behave, while also expressing optimism that the broader conflict involving Iran will ultimately conclude without a wider escalation.
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