Trump Reportedly Cancelled Planned Attacks on Houthis at the Last Minute
US President Donald Trump has reportedly cancelled plans for airstrikes against Houthian group targets in Yemen just minutes before the attack was to be launched.
According to reports from the New York Times (NYT), as cited by the Middle East Monitor on Tuesday (22/09/2026), US government officials revealed that the decision to abort the strike was made by Trump at midday on Sunday (20/09) local time. This occurred after US military commanders had approved the target list and military personnel were already loading ammunition onto aircraft prepared for the operation.
The NYT report states that Trump was initially reluctant to launch airstrikes against the Houthis during a meeting with his advisors on Wednesday (17/09). However, he subsequently ordered the Pentagon to prepare for military action following a telephone conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) on Thursday (18/09).
MBS reportedly urged Trump to intervene directly, following the Houthis’ recent success in seizing the entire Yemeni coastal region along the Red Sea during a rapid offensive. Nevertheless, Trump reversed his decision once again just before the combat mission was launched on Sunday (20/09), ordering the cancellation of the planned strikes.
The White House has not yet responded to the NYT report. This news follows Trump’s statement on Sunday (20/09) that Washington maintains direct communication channels with the Houthis. Trump also noted that the Iran-backed group has agreed not to attack US forces.
Washington continues to prioritise providing advice and intelligence over direct combat intervention. According to CNN, there are currently between 100 and 200 US military advisers operating in Saudi Arabia to provide geospatial intelligence and targeting support for Saudi operations against the Houthis.
Trump’s decision to cancel the planned attack also aligns with a previous agreement between the US and the Houthis reached through mediation in Muscat, the capital of Oman. Houthi representatives stated that the ceasefire agreement with the US, reached in 2025, remains in effect and they have no intention of targeting American vessels.
The conflict in Yemen has flared up again since last July, with Houthi forces engaged in fierce and deadly battles with Yemeni government forces supported by Saudi Arabia. The recent fighting has also drawn Riyadh into the conflict, as the Houthis have announced a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia and targeted Saudi vessels in the Red Sea, alongside launching a series of attacks against Saudi territory recently.