US-based news platform Axios claimed that President Donald Trump promised support for Saudi Arabia's planned military operation against the Houthis. Citing two unnamed US officials, the report said Trump welcomed the request for an operation against the Houthis during a phone call with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The report stated that tensions escalated after an Iranian Mahan Air plane landed in Sanaa, the Yemeni capital controlled by the Houthis. A US official claimed the aircraft was carrying weapons, missile parts, and military experts to the Houthis.
According to Axios, while Saudi Arabia targeted Sanaa International Airport, the Houthis retaliated by attacking Saudi Arabia's Abha Airport with ballistic missiles and drones.
The White House responded to a request for comment by referring to a Fox News interview in which Trump harshly criticized Iran. The Saudi Embassy in Washington did not issue any statement.
Yemen crisis
In Yemen, Iran-backed Houthis have controlled the capital Sanaa and some regions since September 2014. The Saudi-led coalition has been supporting the Yemeni government against the Houthis since March 2015.
In the civil war that has lasted nearly 11 years, a general calm and ceasefire atmosphere has prevailed since April 2022, despite occasional clashes.