According to a report published by The New York Times, President Trump abruptly halted a planned military strike against Houthi forces in Yemen over the weekend, reversing a decision made after sustained pressure from Saudi leadership. Unnamed U.S. administration sources cited by the newspaper revealed that aircraft were loaded with bombs and targets were fully approved before the intervention was canceled at midday Sunday.
The Saudi Appeal and Pentagon Preparations
Mohammed bin Salman contacted Trump by phone to urge military action against advancing Houthi positions, according to The New York Times report. Sources told the newspaper that the Saudi leader effectively implored the U.S. president to intervene. Trump had previously rejected a similar request from Mohammed bin Salman, indicating a reluctance to open a new conflict front against Iran ahead of midterm elections.
Following the phone call, Trump directed the Pentagon to ready strike packages. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cut short a trip to Texas, returning to Washington on Saturday, while Trump returned from Camp David. Target lists received formal approval, and munitions were loaded onto aircraft. However, by midday Sunday, the president reversed course and called off the operation.
Strategic Risks and Prior Military Costs
Most presidential advisers expressed skepticism or outright opposition to launching direct airstrikes against the Houthi movement. U.S. officials had held direct meetings with Houthi representatives to reaffirm a bilateral truce designed to safeguard American commercial vessels transiting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. During a Sunday appearance on Fox News, Trump stated that he remained in decision-making mode regarding Iran policy and emphasized ongoing communication with Houthi interlocutors who have refrained from targeting U.S. assets.
Direct military engagement carries substantial financial and operational burdens. In the spring of 2025, American forces bombed Houthi targets for more than 50 days to restore freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. Despite striking a thousand targets—including radar installations, air defenses, ballistic missiles, and drone facilities—Houthi forces persisted in launching attacks, running up a U.S. expenditure of 1 billion dollars in munitions within a single month.
Did you know? U.S. military operations against Houthi positions in the Red Sea during the spring of 2025 cost approximately 1 billion dollars in weapons and ammunition over the course of just one month, according to administration data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did President Trump cancel the planned strikes against the Houthi movement?
Administration sources cited by The New York Times indicated that Trump changed his mind at midday Sunday following widespread skepticism among his advisers and existing communication channels with Houthi representatives maintaining a truce for U.S. shipping.
What role did Saudi Arabia play in the canceled military operation?
Mohammed bin Salman contacted Trump by phone to urge U.S. intervention against advancing Houthi forces in Yemen, following an earlier rejection of a similar request made by the Saudi leader.
How have previous U.S. military campaigns against the Houthis performed?
A campaign launched by the U.S. in the spring of 2025 struck a thousand targets—including missile systems and radar networks—but failed to halt Houthi attacks on shipping lanes while depleting 1 billion dollars in munitions in a single month.
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