Merve Aydogan
12 September 2026•Update: 12 September 2026
The Trump administration has no plans for direct military action against Houthi forces in Yemen, though it is providing Saudi Arabia with substantial intelligence and targeting support, two US officials told ABC News on Friday.
The anonymous officials said that assessment could shift if threats to Red Sea shipping routes intensify, it noted.
Adm. Brad Cooper, head of the US military’s Central Command, visited Saudi Arabia for talks Thursday as part of Washington's support for Riyadh, said one official.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held two calls on Thursday with President Donald Trump, with the prince pressing for direct US military involvement, though he stopped short of calling it essential, according to the official.
"The United States is focused on protecting our core national security interests – such as ensuring freedom of navigation in the Red Sea – while empowering our regional partners to take the lead in managing and resolving regional security challenges," said a senior administration official.
A second official said Riyadh has signaled a willingness to launch a major offensive against the Houthis alone if necessary, though no decision has been made.
Officials added that Houthi forces reportedly seized Yemen's west coast early Friday, but government troops and allied militias continued resisting, leaving the outcome uncertain absent outside intervention.
Yemen has seen renewed military escalation between government forces and the Houthis since early July, after years of relative calm following a truce that began in 2022.
The Houthis have controlled the capital Sanaa and large areas of northern and western Yemen since September 2014, while the government and allied forces control areas in the south and east.
Since 2015, Saudi Arabia has led a coalition supporting Yemen’s government against the Houthis, who are accused of receiving support from Iran.
