William Lawrence, a professor of international relations at American University and a former senior U.S. diplomat, stated that although reports indicate Trump rejected Saudi Arabia's request to attack the Houthis, the U.S. may still intervene in the conflict. The U.S. will likely become more militarily involved in the confrontation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis at some point. They have previously demonstrated their willingness to intervene when the Yemen issue affects their own interests. The conflicts in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait are linked to the global economy and the U.S.'s security commitment to Saudi Arabia. In recent days, a growing number of Americans believe that the U.S. "needs to do something" to help protect Saudi Arabia and prevent the Houthis from consolidating their gains. The specific form of this intervention is unclear, but the U.S. is already deeply involved, with approximately 100 U.S. military advisors in Saudi Arabia providing extensive intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support. Therefore, further U.S. involvement would not require a significant escalation.
