Saudi Arabia asks US to lead war against Houthis, Washington refuses — Kan News

According to Kan News, Saudi Arabia has asked the United States to lead a military operation against the Houthis in Yemen, but Washington has rejected the offer. This information was reported by an Israeli TV channel, citing a source in the forces fighting the Houthis.

The issue was discussed on August 14 during a meeting between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the head of the US Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper.

According to the TV channel, Saudi Arabia received a refusal from the United States. Washington's decision was explained, among other things, by the fact that the Houthis are not attacking American ships in the Red Sea. Nevertheless, the US side has expressed its readiness to support military operations against the Houthis.

Kan News noted that "Riyadh's request shows that the kingdom does not want to be dragged into the 'Yemen quagmire' again, given its previous experience. The US refusal shows that Washington does not want to lead another military front in the Middle East."

**Confrontation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis**

Yemen has two de facto central authorities. The internationally recognized government controls mainly the south and east of the country, while the Houthis control the capital Sanaa and much of the north and west.

The conflict between Riyadh and the Houthis escalated in July. At that time, the Yemeni group announced that it had struck the international airport in the southwestern city of Abha.

In addition, the Houthis claimed responsibility for launching a missile attack on the kingdom's Jizan province. On July 20, a naval blockade was declared against Saudi Arabia.

In response, Riyadh has launched airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. One of the most recent attacks by the Houthi group came on August 24, when the group attacked a Saudi oil tanker near the Red Sea port city of Yanbu.

The New York Times reported that Saudi Arabia was preparing to resume military operations against the Houthis in Yemen, which it said would be a new front in the US war against Iran and its ally the Houthis.