President Donald Trump told reporters in Dublin that the Iran‑backed Houthi rebels, fresh from seizing Yemen’s entire Red Sea coast, have phoned Washington to request that the United States stay out of the conflict.
Why it matters: The Red Sea corridor carries about 10 % of global oil shipments, and any shift in U.S. involvement could reshape regional security and energy markets.
- Houthis have seized Yemen’s Red Sea coast and three strategic islands, giving them control over the Bab al‑Mandeb Strait.
- President Trump said the rebels called Washington to ask the U.S. not to intervene, a claim reported only by Vanguard and not independently verified.
- The U.S. decision on intervention could affect global oil flows, Saudi security and the broader Iran‑U.S. rivalry in the region.
Driving the news: Trump made the remarks during a visit to Dublin, Ireland, and added that he had spoken with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whom he called a “friend.”
- According to Axios, bin Salman called Trump twice on 26 September asking for U.S. strikes on the Houthis; Trump declined each request General.
- The same week the Houthis launched a large‑scale drone and missile barrage against Saudi oil infrastructure, underscoring their growing strike capability General.
What they're saying: Trump quoted the Houthis as saying, “The Houthis called us and they don’t want to fight with us… they don’t want us to go after them,” and suggested that “everything’s gonna work out fine and dandy” in the region.
- The claim that the rebels directly asked the United States not to intervene appears only in Vanguard’s report and has not been corroborated by other outlets or by any official Houthi statement GeneralVanguard News.
The other side: U.S. officials and regional analysts have not confirmed the phone call, and the White House has offered no comment on the alleged request.
- Iranian state media hailed the Houthi capture of the Red Sea coast as a strategic victory, framing it as part of Tehran’s broader effort to pressure the United States Trinidad Tribune – Latest Trinidad & Tobago News.
- Yemen’s internationally recognised government, while acknowledging the loss of Mayun (Perim) Island, warned that the Houthis’ new foothold could jeopardize humanitarian aid deliveries through the Red Sea Trinidad Tribune – Latest Trinidad & Tobago News.
The big picture: The rapid Houthi advance reshapes the balance of power in the Yemen war and raises the stakes for any external military response.
- If the United States remains hands‑off, Saudi Arabia may pursue unilateral action, potentially widening the conflict with Iran.
- Conversely, a U.S. strike could deter further Houthi expansion but risk retaliation against American assets and allies in the region.