U.S. President Donald Trump declined a personal plea from Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to bomb Yemen’s Houthis rebels.
According to the New York Times, Trump had spent weeks undecided over Saudi Arabia’s calls for help against the Houthis, who increased their offensive against the kingdom this summer.
But on Thursday, Saudi’s leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a key US ally in the war with Iran, urged Trump to intervene against the rapidly advancing group, according to administration officials.
Trump had met with advisers the previous day and told them he did not favour launching strikes.
However, after speaking with the Saudi crown prince, he reportedly ordered the military to prepare airstrikes against the Houthis.
By midday Sunday, however, Trump appeared to have changed his position once again.
Administration officials said there would be no US airstrikes against the Houthis.
His decision to pull back once again reportedly came as target lists had already been approved and bombs were being loaded onto warplanes.
One senior official said that most of Trump’s inner circle was vehemently opposed to joining the Saudis in their fight against the militant group.
Meanwhile, Trump said Sunday that the Houthis agreed not to attack the US, despite the Iran-allied group stepping up its war against Saudi Arabia, Fox News reported.
Instead of direct strikes, Washington committed to providing Saudi Arabia with intelligence and targeting data.
And about 200 U.S. military personnel are stationed in Saudi Arabia to offer non-kinetic support.
