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WorldQuiet 7d · day 13

Trump declines Saudi request to strike Houthis, says group asked US to stay out

After MBS urged strikes as Houthis seized Yemen's Red Sea coast, Trump says the Houthis contacted Washington directly and are letting most shipping through.

newest coverage 6d agosummary written 11d ago153 pieces3.0k likes & upvotes192 comments NewswiresMastodonRedditXBlueskyYouTubeGoogle News

Part of a larger narrative

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What to know

  • MBS called Trump twice urging US strikes on the Houthis as they seized Yemen's entire Red Sea coast; Trump declined and US officials said there were no plans to intervene directly.
  • Trump now says the Houthis contacted Washington themselves, pledging not to fight the US and letting most Red Sea shipping through, except for one unnamed country.
  • The refusal has driven a large online conversation questioning why Saudi Arabia, despite a massive military budget, could not repel the Houthi advance itself.
  • Saudi Arabia continues to press for US action as its oil facilities face attacks and the Bab al-Mandab chokepoint remains contested.

The dispute Commenters disagree on whether Saudi Arabia's weakness is a genuine military failing or a calculated posture (some suggest Saudi is 'sandbagging' to drive up oil prices and provoke US involvement). · positions read across 52 posts and comments

most voices

Saudi Arabia's military is deliberately kept weak and loyalty-based, explaining its inability to stop the Houthis without US help.

  • “The Saudis have kept their military knee-capped deliberately. Men are promoted based on their loyalty rather than on merit.”

    RobBrown4PM · reddit ↗
some voices

The US-Saudi relationship is transactional, and Trump's refusal reflects Saudi arms purchases not translating into unconditional protection.

  • “KSA pays the US including by buying weapons and the deal is the US protects them which the US has done a shit job of... US is Saudi mercenary and payment is Saudi buy us shit which is Saudis way of paying them”

    NitroLada · reddit ↗
some voices

Saudi Arabia's predicament follows from its own strategic choices, including snubbing US conditions tied to the Abraham Accords and forming the Mecca pact instead.

  • “Trump initially said the US would help Saudi Arabia. Later, there was a condition added - Saudi Arabia would need to sign the Abraham Accords and recognize Israel. The Saudis obviously didn't like that, and instead went ahead and signed…”

    curiousstrider · reddit ↗

“We have had discussions. The Houthis called us, and they don't want to fight”

Donald Trump, US President · Washington Examiner ↗ · Sep 11

Donald TrumpDonald Trump US PresidentMohammed bin Salman (MBS) Saudi Crown PrinceHouthis Iran-backed Yemeni armed group

Trump declines Saudi request to strike Houthis, says group asked US to stay out
Jerusalem Post

How it unfolded 4 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesvideospostscomments

Peak 30 pieces in 3h at Sep 10, 11 PM; 153 pieces over 14 days (80 articles · 2 videos · 39 posts · 32 comments) Sep 10, 11 AM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Newswires 2Sep 10, 2 PM — quietSep 10, 5 PM — quietSep 10, 8 PM — 3 pieces · 2 articles · 1 post — Mastodon 2, Newswires 1Sep 10, 11 PM — 30 pieces · 7 articles · 10 posts · 13 comments — Reddit 16, Bluesky 4, Newswires 4, +3 moreSep 11, 2 AM — 8 pieces · 5 articles · 2 posts · 1 comment — Newswires 3, Google News 2, Mastodon 1, +2 moreSep 11, 5 AM — 5 pieces · 1 article · 1 post · 3 comments — Reddit 3, Newswires 1, Mastodon 1Sep 11, 8 AM — quietSep 11, 11 AM — 23 pieces · 17 articles · 1 video · 3 posts · 2 comments — Newswires 13, Google News 4, Reddit 2, +3 moreSep 11, 2 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Reddit 1Sep 11, 5 PM — 4 pieces · 1 post · 3 comments — Reddit 4Sep 11, 8 PM — quietSep 11, 11 PM — quietSep 12, 2 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Sep 12, 5 AM — 6 pieces · 4 articles · 2 posts — Newswires 3, X 1, Mastodon 1, +1 moreSep 12, 8 AM — 3 pieces · 2 articles · 1 post — Newswires 2, Reddit 1Sep 12, 11 AM — 3 pieces · 2 articles · 1 post — Newswires 2, Mastodon 1Sep 12, 2 PM — 4 pieces · 4 articles — Newswires 4Sep 12, 5 PM — quietSep 12, 8 PM — quietSep 12, 11 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Sep 13, 2 AM — quietSep 13, 5 AM — quietSep 13, 8 AM — quietSep 13, 11 AM — quietSep 13, 2 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 13, 5 PM — quietSep 13, 8 PM — quietSep 13, 11 PM — quietSep 14, 2 AM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Google News 2Sep 14, 5 AM — 6 pieces · 5 articles · 1 comment — Newswires 5, Reddit 1Sep 14, 8 AM — 7 pieces · 6 articles · 1 post — Newswires 5, Mastodon 2Sep 14, 11 AM — 2 pieces · 1 article · 1 post — Reddit 1, Newswires 1Sep 14, 2 PM — 3 pieces · 1 article · 2 posts — Mastodon 1, Reddit 1, Newswires 1Sep 14, 5 PM — quietSep 14, 8 PM — quietSep 14, 11 PM — quietSep 15, 2 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 15, 5 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 15, 8 AM — 3 pieces · 3 articles — Newswires 3Sep 15, 11 AM — 4 pieces · 3 articles · 1 post — Newswires 3, Mastodon 1Sep 15, 2 PM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Newswires 2Sep 15, 5 PM — quietSep 15, 8 PM — 2 pieces · 1 article · 1 post — Reddit 1, Newswires 1Sep 15, 11 PM — 2 pieces · 2 posts — Mastodon 2Sep 16, 2 AM — 1 piece · 1 video — YouTube 1Sep 16, 5 AM — 3 pieces · 1 article · 1 post · 1 comment — Newswires 1, Mastodon 1, Reddit 1Sep 16, 8 AM — 4 pieces · 2 articles · 2 posts — Mastodon 3, Newswires 1Sep 16, 11 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 16, 2 PM — 3 pieces · 2 articles · 1 post — Google News 2, Mastodon 1Sep 16, 5 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 16, 8 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Reddit 1Sep 16, 11 PM — 3 pieces · 1 post · 2 comments — Reddit 2, Mastodon 1Sep 17, 2 AM — 4 pieces · 4 comments — Reddit 4Sep 17, 5 AM — 2 pieces · 2 comments — Reddit 2Sep 17, 8 AM — quietSep 17, 11 AM — quietSep 17, 2 PM — quietSep 17, 5 PM — quietSep 17, 8 PM — quietSep 17, 11 PM — quietSep 18, 2 AM — quietSep 18, 5 AM — quietSep 18, 8 AM — quietSep 18, 11 AM — quietSep 18, 2 PM — quietSep 18, 5 PM — quietSep 18, 8 PM — quietSep 18, 11 PM — quietSep 19, 2 AM — quietSep 19, 5 AM — quietSep 19, 8 AM — quietSep 19, 11 AM — quietSep 19, 2 PM — quietSep 19, 5 PM — quietSep 19, 8 PM — quietSep 19, 11 PM — quietSep 20, 2 AM — quietSep 20, 5 AM — quietSep 20, 8 AM — quietSep 20, 11 AM — quietSep 20, 2 PM — quietSep 20, 5 PM — quietSep 20, 8 PM — quietSep 20, 11 PM — quietSep 21, 2 AM — quietSep 21, 5 AM — quietSep 21, 8 AM — quietSep 21, 11 AM — quietSep 21, 2 PM — quietSep 21, 5 PM — quietSep 21, 8 PM — quietSep 21, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 2 AM — quietToday, 5 AM — quietToday, 8 AM — quietToday, 11 AM — quietToday, 2 PM — quietToday, 5 PM — quietToday, 8 PM — quiet ◂ 1 earlier234
Sep 11Sep 12Sep 13Sep 14Sep 15Sep 16Sep 17Sep 18Sep 19Sep 20Sep 21yesterdaynow · 11:57 PM ET
  1. 4

    Trump says Houthis asked US directly not to intervene

    Trump says the Houthis contacted the US, pledging not to fight it and to let most Red Sea shipping through, naming one unspecified country they remain unhappy with.

    “The Houthis called us, and they let us know that they don't want to fight with us. They don't want me to go after them.”
    — Donald Trump
    1. 8 outlets Saudi crown prince, US Central Command chief discuss latest regional developments

      first by Arab News, 10d ago · also Reuters, The Hindu, The National UAE, Anadolu Agency, Middle East Eye, Jerusalem Post +1

      8 more headlines

    2. 6 outlets first by Roya News, 11d ago · also The Hindu, Dawn, Mercury News, Bloomberg, Middle East Eye · read ↗

    2 more claims →

    • U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday that Iran-backed Houthis had asked Washington not to intervene and did not want to fight the United States. “They don't want us to go after them,” Trump told reporters in Dublin, Ireland.

      @FaytuksNetworkX11d ago656▲view on X ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 21 posts in this stretch
    • GeoWire@mastodon.social

      🟠 UPDATE Saudi Airstrikes on Yemen as Houthis Expand Control Saudi Crown Prince sought backing from Egyptian President amid increased Houthi attacks on Saudi shipping and infrastructure, which have driven a surge in global oil prices. 📰 http://www. france24.com/en/video/20260916 -middle-east-iran-war-exposes-limits-of-us-power # SaudiArabia #…

      GeoWire@mastodon.socialMastodon7d ago2▲view on Mastodon ↗

    • I think the word "cities" is doing some heavy lifting here. You can see plenty of videos of groups of rebels in open terrain. Also, you are looking at this through a US perspective. We have the LUXURY of using accurate munitions and the self imposed moral code of minimizing civilian casualties. That's not how the rest of the world works, let alone…

      giant_travelerr/worldnews6d agoview on r/worldnews ↗
    all of them →
  2. 3

    Saudi Arabia presses Trump that 'now is the time' for action

    Amid continued Houthi advances, reporting says Saudi Arabia has told Trump that now is the time for military action against the Iran-backed group.

    1. 1 outlet first by Fox News, 12d ago · read ↗

    • julielaumann.bsky.social

      “Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called Trump twice Thursday, urging him to launch strikes against the Houthis as the Iran-backed group closed in on a vital Red Sea chokepoint. Trump declined.” @axios.com

      julielaumann.bsky.socialBluesky12d ago1▲view on Bluesky ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 6 posts in this stretch

    • Exactly the Egyptians wont get involved even back around 2015-2016 their support was limited to chasing off some Iranian shipments. Egypt remembers the war in Northern Yemen was like a Vietnam for them that costed Nasser some public support and many Egyptians feel if they wernt bogged down in Yemen the Sox day war and the loss of Sinai would of…

      Psychological-Flow55r/geopolitics12d agoview on r/geopolitics ↗

    • Mocha was a UAE stronghold. The Southern forces took perim, the southern coast, and mocha from the houthis. UAE even had patriot batteries installed there and up to 5000 Emirati soldiers. You can still see the barricaded mocha port and the airstrip the emiratis built still on google maps. When they left, they also left a power vaccum that Saudi…

      itchslapr/geopolitics12d agoview on r/geopolitics ↗
    all of them →
  3. 2

    Social media reacts to Trump refusing Saudi Arabia's request

    The Axios scoop spreads widely on social media, framed by some accounts as Trump 'abandoning' Saudi Arabia, and spurs a wide online discussion about Saudi military capability and the US-Saudi security relationship.

    “Saudi Crown Prince MBS called President Trump twice Thursday, urging him to launch strikes against the Houthis as they made sweeping advances in Yemen - Axios. Trump declined.”
    — @Osinttechnical

    • Saudi Crown Prince MBS called President Trump twice Thursday, urging him to launch strikes against the Houthis as they made sweeping advances in Yemen - Axios Trump declined.

      @OsinttechnicalX12d ago1.2k▲view on X ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 25 posts in this stretch
    • aronlund.bsky.social

      MbS asked Trump for air strikes in Yemen, was informed that the U.S. military is busy. @barakravid.bsky.social @axios.com

      aronlund.bsky.socialBluesky12d ago12▲view on Bluesky ↗
    • axios@mastodon.social

      RT @BarakRavid: Scoop: Saudi Crown Prince MBS called President Trump twice Thursday, urging him to launch strikes against the Houthis as the Iran-backed group closed in on a vital Red Sea chokepoint. Trump declined for now, U.S. officials said. My story on @ axios

      axios@mastodon.socialMastodon12d ago1▲view on Mastodon ↗
    all of them →
  4. background

    Houthis complete takeover of Yemen's Red Sea coast — The Iran-allied Houthis capture three strategic islands, seizing Yemen's entire Red Sea coastline and pushing closer to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital corridor for Saudi oil exports since Iran's Hormuz blockade.

  5. 1

    MBS calls Trump twice seeking strikes on Houthis; Trump declines

    Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman phoned Trump twice on Thursday urging US strikes against the Houthis as they closed in on the chokepoint; Trump declined and US officials said there were no plans for direct intervention.

    “Scoop: Saudi Crown Prince MBS called President Trump twice Thursday, urging him to launch strikes against the Houthis as the Iran-backed group closed in on a vital Red Sea chokepoint. Trump declined for now, U.S. officials said.”
    — Barak Ravid / Axios
    1. 7 outlets Saudi crown prince urged Trump to strike Houthis amid Red Sea threat

      first by Axios, 12d ago · also Straits Times, Investing.com News, Hindustan Times, Times of India, Independent UK, Jerusalem Post

      7 more headlines

    2. 6 outlets first by The Hindu, 12d ago · also NewsNation, One America News Network, Defense News, Al-Monitor, Reuters · read ↗

    2 more claims →

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 4 outlets Egypt's Sisi and Saudi Crown Prince stress need for security of Red Sea navigation

    first by Al-Monitor, 8d ago · also France 24 EN, Japan Today, Philadelphia Inquirer

    2 more headlines
  2. 3 outlets US officials decide against backing Saudi Arabia in Yemen after meeting Houthi leaders

    first by Guardian, 7d ago · also India Today, The Guardian

    2 more headlines
  3. 3 outlets Saudi Arabia’s MBS visits Egypt as Red Sea crisis with Houthis escalates

    first by Al-Monitor, 8d ago · also Middle East Eye, Channel News Asia

    2 more headlines
  4. 3 outlets Saudi Leader Meets U.S. General as Widening Conflict Threatens Oil Markets

    first by NYT, 9d ago · also NYT Middle East, NYT Politics

  5. 2 outlets Trump says Houthis ‘don’t want to fight us’ after strait offensive and Saudi pipeline shutdown

    first by Washington Examiner, 11d ago · also Fortune

    1 more headline
  6. 2 outlets Iran War Day 197: Saudi Crown Prince Urged Trump to Join Yemen War

    first by American Conservative, 11d ago · also The American Conservative

  7. 1 outlet Saudi crown prince goes to Egypt for support amid Houthi strikes, and other Mideast developments

    first by Philadelphia Inquirer, 8d ago

    1 more headline

and 3 smaller pieces

What people are saying 15 voices from 4 sites · best of 52 · verbatim

Still unanswered
  • Will Saudi Arabia still commit to the reported $1 trillion US investment given the lack of military backing?
  • Which country is the Houthis still targeting that Trump referenced but did not name?
  • Will Pakistan or Turkey, as Mecca pact signatories, be drawn into military action alongside Saudi Arabia?