21/09/2026
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21/09/2026
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WASHINGTON, Sept 21: US President Donald Trump called off planned US airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen shortly before the attacks were due to begin, according to a report by The New York Times on Sunday.
The reversal came after military commanders had approved target lists and personnel were loading munitions onto aircraft assigned to the operation, administration officials told the newspaper.
Trump had initially opposed launching airstrikes during meetings with advisers on Wednesday. However, he later ordered the Pentagon to prepare for military action following a phone call Thursday with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the report said.
According to The New York Times, the Saudi crown prince urged Trump to intervene directly as Houthi forces made rapid territorial gains in Yemen.
Trump subsequently reversed course again before US aircraft launched combat sorties, putting the planned strikes on hold for the immediate future.
Trump said Sunday that Washington continues to maintain direct communication channels with the Houthis and that the group had agreed not to engage US forces.
The United States has continued to emphasize advisory and intelligence support rather than direct combat intervention. CNN reported that between 100 and 200 US military advisers are currently operating in Saudi Arabia, providing targeting and geospatial intelligence assistance for Saudi operations against Houthi forces.
The decision to postpone the strikes comes amid previous US-Houthi understandings reached through Omani mediation in Muscat.
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 latest developments come as renewed Houthi attacks across the Saudi border have injured civilians in southern Saudi Arabia, while fighting inside Yemen has disrupted shipping routes and contributed to further civilian displacement.
