Trump Supports Saudi Arabia Against Houthis? How an Iranian Flight Reshaped Friends and Foes
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Amid Iran-US conflict, another long-standing civil war is flaring up: Saudi Arabia vs Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.
By Pranjal Gupta
New Delhi, July 14:Â The escalating Iran-US conflict has sparked fears that another long-running conflict in the Middle East, between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthis, could intensify. The renewed hostilities have also brought the United States and Saudi Arabia closer together. According to reports, US President Donald J. Trump has extended support to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) for military action if the Houthis launch another attack in Yemen.
On Monday, Saudi Arabia carried out an airstrike on Yemen's Sanaa airport to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing. The strike triggered a swift response from the Houthis, who targeted Saudi Arabia's Abha Airport, signalling their ability to retaliate.
Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, in a video statement posted on Telegram, warned airlines against flying through Saudi airspace. He said the warnings should be taken "seriously until the blockade on Sanaa International Airport is lifted."
There are concerns that if the Houthis launch another attack, any Saudi retaliation could be far more severe. As a result, Saudi Arabia may require military and economic support from its allies. Following the Houthi attack on Monday, Mohammed bin Salman reportedly sought assurances from Trump that the US would back Saudi Arabia against the Houthis, Axios reported.
How an Iranian Flight Triggered the Latest Tensions
However, Saudi Arabia has been engaging with the US on the issue for the past 10 days, following an incident involving an aircraft operated by Iran's Mahan Air.
The aircraft landed in Yemen's Houthi-controlled capital, Sanaa, and picked up a delegation of senior Houthi leaders, who travelled to Iran to attend the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
The incident attracted significant attention because direct flights from Iran to Sanaa have not operated for more than a decade. Saudi Arabia had long blocked such flights, fearing they could be used to transport weapons, military equipment or Iranian military advisers to
support the Houthis.
Why Mahan Air Is Under Scrutiny
US officials also highlighted the airline involved. Mahan Air has been sanctioned by the United States over its alleged links to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
According to a US official, the airline has previously been accused of transporting personnel and supplies linked to the IRGC, making the recent flight a major security concern for both Saudi Arabia and the United States, the report said.
Saudi Seeks Trump's Backing
Last week, Saudi Arabia informed the United States that it was concerned about the
escalating situation with the Houthis and sought Washington's support for possible military action against the Iran-backed group.
As part of these discussions, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the US met Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday. The following day, Rubio held talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan. Shortly afterwards, President Trump spoke by phone with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. According to a US official, the Crown Prince sought Trump's backing for military strikes against the Houthis, and the US President agreed to support the operation.