Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman placed two calls to President Donald Trump on Sept. 10, urging Washington to act against the Iran‑aligned Houthi militia that had captured the Red Sea port city of Mocha and was moving toward the strategic Bab al‑Mandab strait. According to two U.S. officials cited by Axios, Trump did not answer either call, and the administration has no immediate plan for direct military intervention against the Houthis.
The United States, while increasingly concerned about the escalating conflict in Yemen, continues to provide non‑lethal support to Saudi Arabia, with roughly 200 U.S. personnel stationed in the kingdom. Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, arrived in Saudi Arabia on Sept. 10 for emergency talks with Saudi officials, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
U.S. officials have repeatedly emphasized that President Trump’s policy remains centered on countering Iran and safeguarding the Hormuz Strait, deliberately avoiding the opening of a new front in the Red Sea. Neither the White House nor the Saudi government has publicly commented on the missed calls.
Oil markets reacted sharply; Brent crude rose after the Houthi seizure of Mocha, which threatens the Bab al‑Mandab corridor—a vital artery for global trade and Saudi oil exports. With Iran already restricting traffic through Hormuz, further disruptions at Bab al‑Mandab could give Tehran additional leverage over the United States and its allies.
Trump previously met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House in November 2025, but the recent episode highlights a growing divergence between Saudi expectations for U.S. action and Washington’s restrained approach to the Yemen conflict.