Istanbul (ANTARA) - The United States has rejected Saudi Arabia\u2019s\nrequest to launch direct military attacks against Houthi rebels in Yemen\nfollowing the group\u2019s seizure of the strategic port city of Mokha.<\/p>\n
The news outlet Axios reported on Thursday that Saudi Crown Prince\nMohammed bin Salman contacted US President Donald Trump twice in close\nsuccession on Thursday to request US air support as the rebel group\nadvanced towards the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.<\/p>\n
In the first contact, the Saudi leader conveyed the setbacks faced by\nYemeni forces allied with Riyadh, before officially requesting direct\nmilitary intervention several hours later.<\/p>\n
Trump rejected the request to maintain the US strategic focus on Iran\nand the Strait of Hormuz, and to avoid opening a new theatre of\nconflict, according to several sources familiar with the matter speaking\nto Axios.<\/p>\n
Despite refusing to launch direct airstrikes, the White House agreed\nto provide non-kinetic assistance by allowing the transfer of\nintelligence information and targeting data that could be used to assist\nSaudi forces.<\/p>\n
Sharing this information complements the approximately 200 US\nmilitary personnel stationed in Saudi Arabia to carry out advisory and\nliaison duties.<\/p>\n
Washington also dispatched US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander,\nAdmiral Brad Cooper, to Saudi Arabia on Thursday to consult with senior\nSaudi defence officials.<\/p>\n
These developments occur amidst rising tensions between Riyadh and\nthe Houthi group.<\/p>\n
In a statement to the United Nations Security Council on Thursday,\nSaudi Arabia\u2019s UN Ambassador, Abdulaziz Alwasil, warned that the kingdom\nwould take all necessary measures following Houthi attacks earlier this\nweek.<\/p>\n
Attacks on several civilian locations in cities in southern Saudi\nArabia caused 73 injuries.<\/p>\n
The seizure of Mokha and the surrounding coastal areas holds immense\nstrategic significance due to its proximity to the Bab al-Mandeb Strait,\na vital shipping lane connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.<\/p>\n
Yemen has experienced a military escalation between government forces\nand the Houthis since early July, following years of relative calm\nfollowing the ceasefire that began in April 2022.<\/p>\n
The Houthis have controlled the national capital, Sanaa, and much of\nnorthern and western Yemen since September 2014, while the government\nand its allied forces control territories in the south and east.<\/p>\n
Since March 2015, Saudi Arabia has led a coalition supporting the\nYemeni government against the Houthis, who are accused of receiving\nsupport from Iran.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-rejects-saudi-arabias-request-to-attack-houthi-group-1789128677", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }