"Trump Approves Saudi Attacks on Yemen's Houthi Rebels"... Escalation Intensifies

"Trump Approves Bin Salman's Military Operation Proposal"
"Most Intense Attacks Since 2022 Truce"

Reuters Yonhap News

According to Axios on July 13 (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump has approved and expressed support for Saudi Arabia's proposal to conduct military operations against the Houthi rebels in Yemen. With the truce between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi rebels broken for the first time in four years, there are growing concerns that the conflict could escalate significantly.

On July 13 (local time), Axios, citing U.S. officials, reported, "President Trump was briefed in advance by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Saudi Arabia's military action plans against the Houthi rebels and accepted the request for support." The report also stated, "Saudi Arabia had already explained since last week that threats from the Houthi rebels were increasing, and the foreign ministers of the United States and Saudi Arabia have had phone conversations." While the White House has not directly responded to requests for comment on the article, concerns are rising over the anticipated resumption of Saudi attacks against the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Previously, the Houthi rebels announced that Saudi Arabia had broken the truce by attacking an Iranian aircraft attempting to land at Sanaa International Airport in Yemen the previous day and had launched airstrikes on Saudi airport facilities in retaliation. The day before, an aircraft belonging to Iran's Mahan Air tried to land without the Yemeni government's approval, came under attack from the Yemeni military, and ultimately landed at Hodeidah Airport, which is under the control of the Houthi rebels. According to Almasirah, the Houthi rebel media outlet, the plane was carrying an official delegation of the Houthi rebels.

There have been no direct flights between Iran and Sanaa International Airport for over 10 years. The Yemeni government had suspended the route, judging it could be exploited as a conduit for weapons and military supplies between the Houthi rebels and Iran. The Yemeni government claims that attacking the Iranian aircraft that violated their airspace without approval was an act of defending sovereignty.

Meanwhile, at the emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, which was convened at the request of the Yemeni government, concerns were raised about further escalation in the Middle East. Mohamed Khaled Khiari, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, stated, "Yemen and the surrounding region cannot withstand another vicious cycle of heightened tensions," urging all parties to engage in constructive negotiations under UN mediation.

Axios noted, "U.S. officials have assessed the latest Saudi airstrike on Sanaa International Airport and the Houthi retaliatory attack as the most serious border clashes since 2022." The report also pointed out that, "If direct military conflict escalates between the two sides, tensions in the Middle East could rise further, and the possibility of a larger military confrontation between the United States and Iran could increase."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.