Israeli Report: Washington Rejected Saudi Request to Lead New Military Campaign Against Houthis in Yemen
Aden – YOL
Israeli media reports have revealed new details about a meeting held in mid-August between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the commander of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), Admiral Brad Cooper, indicating that the Houthi issue in Yemen was among the key topics discussed.
According to Israel’s public broadcaster KAN, the Saudi Crown Prince asked the United States to take the lead in the military front against the Houthis in Yemen. Washington, however, reportedly rejected the proposal, preferring to avoid opening an additional combat front in the Middle East at the current stage.
According to the Israeli report, Washington instead informed Riyadh that it was prepared to support any Saudi-led military action against the Houthis, without U.S. forces themselves assuming direct command of the confrontation.
Other reports citing the Israeli account suggest that potential U.S. support could focus on intelligence and logistical assistance, while avoiding direct involvement in leading a new military campaign.
Meeting Officially Confirmed, but Houthi Discussions Not Disclosed by Saudi Arabia or the U.S.
The meeting between Mohammed bin Salman and Cooper took place on August 13. Saudi sources officially stated that the two sides discussed defense cooperation between the Kingdom and the United States, as well as regional developments and efforts to de-escalate tensions and enhance security and stability in the region.
U.S. Central Command also confirmed that Cooper concluded a 10-day tour of the Middle East on August 15, during which he visited six countries, including Saudi Arabia, and met with senior civilian and military officials.
According to the Israeli account, Washington’s position reflects its desire to avoid expanding its direct military involvement in the Middle East or opening a new front against the Houthis.
The reported discussions come at a time of heightened military tensions across the region, making the opening of another major combat front in Yemen a potentially costly political and military decision for Washington.
According to the report, the U.S. position highlights an important distinction between providing Saudi Arabia with military and intelligence support and the United States itself assuming command of a war against the Houthis.
Washington, according to the Israeli report, is not opposed to supporting Riyadh should it decide to take military action, but it does not want to assume direct responsibility for managing a new front in Yemen.
Riyadh and the Experience of the Yemen War
The Israeli public broadcaster’s report links the alleged Saudi request to the Kingdom’s previous experience in Yemen, suggesting that Riyadh is seeking to avoid becoming independently drawn back into a broad and prolonged war against the Houthis.
Since the Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015, the conflict has evolved into one of the region’s most complex military and political crises, with years of fighting failing to produce a complete military defeat of the Houthis.
Therefore, if confirmed, the request for U.S. leadership of the confrontation could reflect a Saudi attempt to secure a broader American military umbrella before entering any new escalation, rather than Riyadh bearing the military and political burden of such an operation on its own.
A New Equation in the Yemen Conflict
If accurate, the reported information points to a different equation emerging in dealing with the Houthis: Saudi Arabia appears reluctant to return to leading an open-ended war similar to the campaign launched during the early years of its intervention in Yemen, while the United States, for its part, appears unwilling to assume command of a new military confrontation.
At the same time, according to the report, the possibility remains that Washington could provide intelligence, logistical, or limited military support for operations led by regional partners.
This raises a key question over the future of any military escalation against the Houthis: Who would lead the confrontation on the ground if regional and international actors decide to move beyond containment and attempt to alter the military balance of power in Yemen?