Trump Reportedly Ordered Pentagon to Prepare Strikes on Yemen Before Reversing Course
President Donald Trump reportedly directed the Pentagon to prepare military strikes on Yemen before reversing course, according to officials familiar with the matter. The about-face came as Trump said Sunday that Washington maintains direct channels of communication with the Houthis and that the group had agreed not to engage US forces. The report underscores the delicate balance between supporting a key ally and avoiding a new conflict.
The internal debate was driven by requests from Saudi Arabia, a key US ally, for American military support as the Iran-backed Houthi militants intensified attacks on the kingdom and expanded their control of strategic territory along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. The issue took on greater urgency after Houthi missile and drone attacks targeted Riyadh and other Saudi locations, while the group’s advances around the Bab Al Mandab raised fresh concerns over one of the world’s most important shipping routes. Officials privately expressed concern that failing to act more forcefully would amount to a betrayal of an important regional ally, according to two officials.
However, Trump told Fox News on Sunday that the United States remained in communication with the group and said the Houthis had agreed not to fight the US. Houthi representatives have said a 2025 ceasefire with the United States remains in effect and that they do not intend to target American shipping. The reversal suggests a preference for diplomacy over direct military involvement, even as tensions persist.
Analysts caution that anti-Houthi forces in Yemen remain fragmented and have questioned whether they could translate American air power into lasting territorial gains. Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz remains severely disrupted by the Iran conflict, adding to regional instability. The episode highlights the complexities of US involvement in Yemen and the broader Middle East, where competing interests and fragile ceasefires shape decision-making.
Shimanta Das 
