WorldPosted at: Sep 21 2026 1:55PM


US Warplanes were being loaded for Houthi strikes after Saudi appeal, but Trump changed course

Washington, Sep 21 (UNI) The US was preparing to launch airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged President Donald Trump for military intervention. American commanders had already drawn up target lists, and warplanes were being prepared for the mission. But the planned attack was called off at the eleventh hour before the first wave of strikes could begin.
The New York Times reported that the preparations had gone much further than previously known. US commanders had approved a list of targets, while troops were loading bombs onto the American warplanes selected for the mission. The operation was reportedly close to getting underway when Trump decided to pull back, or at least delay the strikes.
According to The New York Times, Trump changed course at the last moment, putting the planned operation on hold. The decision came after weeks of debate and dilemma inside the administration over whether the US should get directly involved in Saudi Arabia’s fight against the Houthis or not.
Trump had initially been reluctant to authorize attacks, but his position shifted after the conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
By Sunday, however, Trump has changed course again. US officials said the strikes would not proceed for the time being, although the administration did not rule out future military action.
The episode highlights the difficult position facing Washington as it balances its relationship with Saudi Arabia against the risks of opening another military front in the Middle East. US officials have also raised concerns about the strain that another sustained air campaign could place on American forces and weapons stocks.
The Houthis have been involved in Yemen’s long-running conflict and have previously targeted shipping in the Red Sea. The group also came under an extensive US bombing campaign in 2025 before Trump announced a cease-fire.
The latest decision means the United States will, for now, avoid joining Saudi Arabia in direct strikes against Houthi positions. At the same time, Washington continues to maintain its security relationship with Riyadh and remains engaged in the broader regional conflict.
The developments show how quickly US military planning can change at the highest level, particularly when Washington faces competing demands from allies and concerns about widening an already complex regional conflict.
The Iran-backed Houthis are making new gains in Yemen, raising fresh concerns for Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East. Their advance toward strategically important areas around the Red Sea has added another layer of pressure to a region already dealing with the fallout from the US-Iran war.
Washington has so far stopped short of directly attacking the Houthis, instead providing Saudi Arabia with intelligence and targeting support. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has spoken with President Donald Trump several times and asked for American strikes, but the request has not resulted in direct US military action.
The Houthis' latest moves are particularly important because of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a narrow waterway linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Any major disruption there could affect commercial shipping and add to existing concerns over global energy supplies.
The Houthis also claimed attacks on what they described as sensitive sites in the Saudi capital and an Aramco facility in Yanbu. The claims could not all be independently verified.
As per US reports, Trump has also said the Houthis have communicated with Washington and indicated that they do not want a direct confrontation with the United States. His position has created a difficult situation for Saudi Arabia, which is seeking American help while trying to contain the Houthi advance on its own.
The issue is also tied to the broader confrontation with Iran. US and Gulf officials see a connection between the Houthis and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, although the extent of Tehran's control over the group remains a subject of debate.
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