FT: US refuses Saudi request for air cover amid Houthis' advance

The United States has declined a Saudi request for air cover to help stop an advance by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, with Washington saying it is not prepared to intervene as it remains focused on the war with Iran, a diplomat told the Financial Times.

Riyadh sought US support as the Houthis advanced along Yemen’s Red Sea coast toward the strategically important Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which has become increasingly vital to Saudi oil exports following disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Houthis have also launched waves of missiles and drones at energy facilities in Saudi Arabia’s southern provinces, while an attack by Shia militants from Iraq has forced the closure of a key oil pipeline.

The Saudi request comes as the situation in Yemen has escalated sharply. In early September, the Houthi movement launched an offensive in southwestern Yemen and, alongside its ground advance, began missile and drone strikes on coastal areas along the Red Sea and around Taiz.

The group has sought to cut routes toward Mocha and advance toward areas near Bab al-Mandeb. On September 12, a member of the Ansar Allah Politburo confirmed that the Houthis had completed an operation to establish control over territories in western Yemen with access to the strait.

Despite Riyadh’s concerns, US President Donald Trump has publicly played down the Houthi threat. During a visit to Ireland on September 12, Trump said the Houthis had contacted Washington and indicated they did not want to fight the United States.

“They don’t want us to go after them,” Trump said, adding that the Houthis were allowing most ships to pass.

The US refusal comes as Saudi Arabia faces mounting pressure on its oil exports. Saudi crude production fell to 6.2 million barrels per day in August, its lowest level in 36 years, according to data submitted to OPEC, amid difficulties moving tankers through both the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb.

The East-West pipeline, which can carry up to 7 million barrels per day, has become increasingly important to Saudi exports after Iran began attacking shipping in the Hormuz Strait.

Riyadh is now confronting security threats from both the Houthis in Yemen and Iran-backed Shia militias in Iraq, raising concerns over the security of the kingdom’s energy infrastructure and vital export routes.

By Sabina Mammadli