Yemen requests Trump to advocate for U.S. military support against Houthis

Yemen’s senior officials said the country is asking former President Donald Trump to lobby Washington for direct U.S. military support in its fight against the Iranian‑backed Houthi rebels, according to NBC News. The request comes as the Houthis have tightened their grip on Yemen’s Red Sea coast, launching attacks on shipping lanes that carry a significant share of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas. The move signals Yemen’s growing desperation for external help after years of a stalemate with the Saudi‑led coalition and limited U.S. aid.

The conflict began in 2014 when the Houthis seized Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and later expanded their control to large swaths of the north. The Saudi‑led coalition, backed by the United States, has been fighting the rebels since 2015. The Houthis have increasingly targeted the Bab al‑Mandab Strait, the narrow waterway between Yemen and the Horn of Africa, which is a choke point for more than 10 % of global oil traffic. Iran’s support for the Houthis has added a regional dimension, prompting Washington to maintain a cautious stance: it supplies arms, intelligence and a limited naval presence but has avoided direct combat involvement. Yemen’s appeal to Trump—who left office in 2021—suggests the country is seeking a high‑profile advocate who can pressure the current administration to step up its engagement.

If the U.S. responds, it could mean a surge in intelligence sharing, a larger naval task force in the Gulf of Aden or even a shift in the coalition’s strategy. Washington would face domestic political pressure and the risk of escalating the war, but it would also be answering a clear humanitarian and economic call: a sustained Houthi attack could disrupt global oil markets and raise freight costs worldwide. The next week will likely see the White House weigh the request, while Yemeni officials may seek to broaden the appeal by reaching out to other former U.S. leaders or international partners. The outcome will shape not only Yemen’s fragile peace prospects but also the stability of one of the world’s most critical maritime corridors.