Donald Trump Speaks With Yemen President Rashad Al-Alimi on Houthis, Makes No Direct Military Pledge

US President Donald Trump spoke by phone with Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi on Sunday, September 20, four people familiar with the matter said, discussing the rapid advances of the Iran-backed Houthis around a vital global waterway. During the discussion, Alimi requested US support for his Saudi-backed government in its fight against the Houthis, who this month took key areas along the Bab al-Mandeb strait in a lightning offensive.

However, the outreach stopped short of securing an intervention commitment from Washington, reported Reuters. Two of the sources, one Yemeni and one Western, said Trump had made no direct pledge of military support during the call. Neither the White House nor Yemen's information minister immediately responded to requests for comment. Why Donald Trump Aborted Ready-To-Launch Strikes on Houthis Despite Direct Appeal From Saudi Crown Prince MBS.

Yemen President Alimi Seeks Intervention After Bab al-Mandeb Offensive

The high-level phone discussion took place as Yemen's internationally recognised government faces severe battlefield pressure along the southern Red Sea corridor. Houthi forces recently mounted a swift offensive that captured key coastal positions overlooking the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a crucial maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.

Alimi sought direct American backing to halt the militia's advance and assist government troops in countering the group's expanded operational footprint across the waterway. Despite the strategic sensitivity of the shipping lane, US officials refrained from committing armed assistance or kinetic resources during the conversation. Donald Trump Says He’s in ‘Deciding Mode’ on Iran, Warns of ‘Very Big Things’ As Tehran Sends 7 Conditions.

Donald Trump Administration Deliberations on Houthi Threat

The restraint during Sunday’s call aligns with Trump's broader posture regarding the conflict in Yemen. Trump has said publicly that the US is in contact with the Houthis and that the group has said it will not target U.S. shipping.

The position comes despite Washington having officially designated the Houthis as a terrorist organization. While the group has continued its military pressure on Saudi Arabia and Yemeni government positions, it has maintained an understanding to spare American commercial and military vessels in regional waters.

Rebuffing Saudi and Regional Appeals

Trump has also rebuffed Saudi requests for military support against the Houthis, Reuters has previously reported.

The administration’s reluctance to engage directly reflects internal debate over avoiding deeper entanglement in another Middle Eastern conflict, even as regional allies urge decisive American intervention to secure international shipping routes and push back against Iranian proxy forces.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 21, 2026 09:41 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).