The government of Yemen has reportedly asked the United States for military support in its ongoing conflict with the Houthis, a group backed by Iran and currently expanding its control along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. This development comes as the Houthis threaten a key waterway—the Bab el-Mandeb Strait—that is vital for global energy transport. During a recent phone call, Yemen’s president, Rashad al-Alimi, reportedly requested U.S. assistance from former President Donald Trump, according to Abdullah Al-Alimi Bawazir, a senior Yemeni official. When asked about reports that Trump had not explicitly promised military help, Bawazir said he was unaware of any rejection and expressed confidence that Trump understands the threat posed by the Houthis. He emphasized that Yemen hopes for more support to counter the rebels. Bawazir did not specify whether the U.S. should provide direct military strikes, but he stressed that Yemen does not expect American troops to fight on its behalf. Instead, he requested enhanced coordination in intelligence and security, as well as support to strengthen Yemen’s own military capabilities. He highlighted the importance of aerial operations and the need for U.S. backing to help Yemeni forces on the ground, which he said is crucial to neutralizing the threat from the Houthis. Yemen has been in a state of conflict since 2014, when the Houthis took control of the capital, Sanaa, forcing the internationally recognized government into exile. This led to a regional proxy war, with Saudi Arabia supporting the exiled government against the Iran-backed rebels. Recently, the Houthis have advanced along the Red Sea coast, aiming to block the Bab el-Mandeb Strait—a critical route for oil shipments from the Middle East. Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally, has called for U.S. military action against the Houthis, who escalated tensions further by attacking Riyadh. So far, U.S. involvement has been limited to intelligence sharing and targeting data. Former President Trump had previously ordered airstrikes against the Houthis but later canceled them. While the U.S. has committed to supporting Saudi Arabia, Trump has suggested that the Houthis do not want to fight the U.S. and have even reached out to the administration, expressing a preference for U.S. non-involvement. Meanwhile, a Houthi official stated that the group does not target the U.S. or other nations in the Red Sea, only Saudi Arabia. However, Yemeni officials caution against trusting assurances from a group linked to Iran, which they view as a destabilizing force in the region. Despite this, Yemen remains open to U.S. engagement, emphasizing the depth of discussions on the issue.