US President Donald Trump had moved to launch airstrikes against Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) pressed him to intervene. But Trump abruptly halted the operation before the strikes could begin.
A report by The New York Times states that Trump had spent nearly two weeks wavering over whether to join Saudi Arabia in its renewed fight against the Houthis. On Wednesday, he told advisers he did not favour strikes. But after MBS called him on Thursday and again urged US military help, Trump reversed course and instructed the Pentagon to prepare airstrikes.
