Conflict & Security
Trump weighed Houthi strike, held off to avoid new Middle East front
September 21, 2026 at 03:07 PM · Updated 25d ago
Coverage
3 reports · 2 in Arabic, 1 in English · over 3 hours
يواليوم السابع
إكسيوس: ترامب فكر بضرب الحوثيين وتراجع لتجنب الانخراط في قتال جديد - اليوم السابع
(opens the publisher’s site)
TGThe Guardian
Houthis move to seize strategic terrain after Trump calls off airstrikes at last minute
(opens the publisher’s site)
AJAl Jazeera Arabic
عاجل | أكسيوس عن مسؤولين أمريكيين: ترمب درس إمكانية إصدار أمر بشن ضربة ضد الحوثيين قبل أن يقرر التريث في الوقت الراهن
(opens the publisher’s site)Two US officials said President Trump considered ordering a strike on Yemen's Houthis this weekend before deciding to hold off.
- Two US officials told Axios that Trump weighed authorizing a strike against the Houthis before deciding against it.
- The officials said Trump held off to avoid engaging in a new front in the Middle East.
- A US official said the CENTCOM commander prepared strike options for Yemen, which Trump held off on approving for now.
- Trump reversed the planned strikes after a call from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who pleaded for US intervention.
- After the reversal, Houthi fighters advanced to seize strategic heights cutting the Red Sea coast off from Saudi-backed forces.
- The Houthi advance has displaced at least 125,000 people since September.