Axios quoted two US officials as saying that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made two calls to US President Donald Trump on Thursday, urging him to launch strikes against the Houthis.
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The report stated that Trump rejected the request. It added that US officials said the administration does not intend to take direct military action against the Houthis at this time.
The report could not be immediately verified. Neither the White House nor the Saudi Embassy in Washington responded to requests for comment outside of business hours.
According to Axios, the United States is increasingly concerned about the escalating conflict in Yemen and is working to intensify its support for the kingdom while simultaneously seeking to avoid direct military involvement.
The report stated that Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of the US Central Command, traveled to Saudi Arabia on Thursday for urgent coordination talks.
The report added that US military and civilian officials informed their Saudi counterparts in recent weeks that Trump's directives were to focus US forces on Iran and securing the Strait of Hormuz while avoiding opening a new military front.
Reuters reported in July that Saudi Arabia was seeking to form an international coalition to protect shipping in the Red Sea from Houthi attacks, amid escalating tensions in and around Yemen.
This escalation dates back to early July when the Houthis announced that their forces had intercepted Saudi warplanes that were trying to prevent an Iranian civilian aircraft from landing at Sanaa International Airport.
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