Trump Administration Leaves Saudi Arabia to Combat Houthi Threat Alone
Despite established security alliances, the U.S. and other regional partners are hesitant to directly engage the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, citing concerns about escalation and the existing conflict dynamics.
Saudi Arabia finds itself largely alone in confronting the escalating threat from Yemen's Houthi rebels, with the Trump administration and other allies indicating the conflict is an internal Saudi-Houthi issue rather than a direct extension of broader regional tensions, despite the Houthis' attacks impacting global oil supplies.
Despite years of cultivating security partnerships with the United States, Gulf neighbors, Turkey, and Pakistan, Riyadh is receiving little direct military assistance as it defends its cities, critical pipelines, and refineries. Analysts attribute this reluctance to two primary factors: an unwillingness to be drawn into a new confrontation with the Iran-backed group and the long-standing nature of the border conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis.
"For the Gulf allies, they are likely concerned about being on the receiving end of Iranian and Houthi retaliation," Mona Yacoubian, director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Middle East Program, told The Post. "They are reluctant to help at the risk of exposing their civilian and energy infrastructure to the attacks we’ve seen so far."
Nations that had previously pledged support, such as Turkey and Pakistan, have also refrained from direct intervention. Both countries possess formidable military capabilities and had signed the Mecca Agreement in August, vowing to defend Riyadh. However, Pakistan, a nuclear-armed state, has argued that the current hostilities fall within the scope of the "pre-existing" Yemeni civil war, thus not triggering the alliance's mutual defense clauses.
The conflict in Yemen has seen Houthi rebels and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government engaged in hostilities for years, with a fragile cease-fire in place before a recent resurgence. Saudi Arabia, equipped with modern military hardware, including F-35 fighter jets and Abrams tanks, has been contending with the Houthi forces, who have reportedly recruited up to 350,000 fighters.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly sought President Trump's intervention to quell the Houthi uprising, but the U.S. president declined to authorize airstrikes against the group, according to American sources. The primary U.S. concerns appear to be avoiding further escalation of the Iran conflict and protecting American troops and assets in the region.
The Soufan Center, a security consulting firm, described the U.S. disinterest as a "worst-case scenario" for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, suggesting a potential faltering of the long-standing U.S. security umbrella for Saudi Arabia. The report noted that Riyadh's main strategic partner seems unwilling or unable to uphold its commitments to defend the kingdom against Iranian-backed groups.
President Trump stated that the Houthis had assured him they would not target U.S. interests, implying a distinction between their actions and Iranian directives. Saudi Arabia, which is also engaged in the broader conflict with Iran and reportedly facing a shortage of missile interceptors, has sought air support from France, Britain, Pakistan, and Egypt.
The U.S. itself is reportedly experiencing shortages of missile interceptors, and a planned sale of 48 F-35 stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia is not expected to be completed for several years.
Meanwhile, the Houthis have intensified their attacks within Yemen and on Saudi Arabia, including launching ballistic missiles near Riyadh. The group has also disrupted maritime traffic in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and along the Saudi East-West Pipeline, which had been rerouting oil away from the Strait of Hormuz. These disruptions caused significant fluctuations in oil markets, with crude prices briefly exceeding $100 per barrel.
Given the Houthi alignment with Iran and Saudi Arabia's isolation, experts suggest that resolving the conflict may be protracted, particularly if Iran attempts to leverage the situation for broader concessions in the region. Yacoubian noted that Iran has previously linked regional cease-fires, such as in Lebanon, to other strategic objectives.
It remains uncertain whether the Houthis will fully commit to the Iranian agenda, as their stated priorities remain focused on Yemen and diminishing Saudi influence within the country.