US President Donald Trump ordered the US military to prepare for a strike in Yemen, but then cancelled the order just three hours later.
What happened
The US military was instructed to prepare for a strike in Yemen on Sunday at 5:00 PM local time, but the order was cancelled at 2:00 PM. According to US sources, there was a disagreement among senior military officials about whether to intervene in the conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Some senior military officials argued that opening a new front in the region would be a "bad idea" due to concerns about depleting ammunition stocks. They also noted that the Houthis were not currently attacking American ships.
However, other military officials supported taking action against the Houthis, arguing that the US should support its ally Saudi Arabia, especially after the downing of a Saudi F-15 jet. They warned that failing to take action could be seen as a "betrayal" of a key regional ally.
Trump had initially planned to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Thursday, but after their conversation, he instructed the military to present him with new options for strikes against the Houthis. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Keane, convened an emergency meeting to discuss military options.
The decision to cancel the strike was reportedly due to concerns about complicating the ongoing campaign against Iran and the risk of creating a new front in the region. However, some military officials argued that US forces could handle both missions simultaneously.
Meanwhile, the UK has agreed to provide air refueling services to Saudi Arabia for a limited period, in response to a request for military support. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham described the move as helping to "stabilize the broader region".
