🛡️ Trump reportedly called off prepared Houthi strikes: President Trump said: “The U.S. is in constant communication with the Houthis, and they've agreed not to fight the U.S.”.
According to The New York Times, Trump initially ordered the Pentagon to prepare airstrikes against the Houthis in Yemen following a request from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, but reversed his decision by Sunday. Target lists had been approved and bombs were being loaded onto U.S. warplanes when he called off the operation.
The newspaper reported that most of Trump’s inner circle was skeptical of, or opposed to, U.S. involvement in Saudi Arabia’s fight against the Houthis, particularly given the strain on the U.S. military during the war with Iran.
Reuters reported that Trump spoke by phone with Rashad al-Alimi, president of Yemen’s internationally recognized government, about Houthi advances around the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Al-Alimi requested U.S. support for his Saudi-backed government, but Trump made no direct pledge of military assistance.
🛡️ UK announces refuelling support for Saudi Arabia: British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the UK would provide Saudi Arabia with “defensive air-to-air refuelling” support following Houthi drone and missile attacks, the BBC reported. A single RAF Voyager aircraft based at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus is expected to begin operations in the coming days.
UK officials described the deployment as “time limited” and expected to last “for weeks”. Burnham said it followed a Saudi request for military support and was “aimed at protecting regional stability and British interests”.
The announcement followed Bloomberg reporting that Burnham was leaning toward approving defensive military assistance against frequent Houthi attacks and that London was expected to urge other countries to provide similar support.
🔹 Iraq outlines disarmament timetable and wartime oil losses: An Iraqi official told Al Jazeera: “The Iraqi government has a plan to disarm the [Iran-backed] factions that extends until the middle of next year. The Iraqi PM is likely to inform the US President of this plan during their meeting in New York”.
Iraqi Prime Minister al-Zaidi told The New York Times: “The disarmament process will begin with a 90-day period during which factions will not attack or be subjected to American attacks. The groups will begin handing over their weapons, and the process is expected to be completed by June 30, 2027. We will consider armed groups outlaws if they continue their activities after the deadline expires”.
Al-Zaidi also described the war’s economic impact: “We lost 60% of our monthly oil revenues due to the war. Iran has not allowed our tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz because its goal is to raise global oil prices”.
🔹 U.S. proposes regional energy rebuilding fund: The Trump administration proposed a $5 billion investment fund called “PACT” to rebuild Middle Eastern energy infrastructure damaged during the Iran war, The Wall Street Journal reported. Matching contributions from eight Gulf and regional partners would bring the total to $10 billion.
The proposal follows extensive damage to regional pipelines and refineries during the seven-month conflict. Gulf officials expressed skepticism, arguing that rebuilding without a peace agreement could expose new infrastructure to further Iranian attacks. Smaller states, including Kuwait and Qatar, also remain dependent on the Strait of Hormuz.
The fund would be managed by the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, which typically invests in developing countries rather than wealthy Gulf monarchies.
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