Axios reports President Trump consulted senior advisers over the weekend on
possible airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. A U.S. official said
CENTCOM commander Brad Cooper on Saturday submitted multiple strike options to
Defense Secretary Hegseth; another official said Trump ultimately decided to
hold off. Atlantic Council researcher and former Pentagon official Alex Plitsas
told Axios the president reversed course to avoid “opening a Pandora’s box,”
warning strikes could prompt the Houthis to threaten the Bab el‑Mandeb and
create a second chokepoint; Plitsas added a Saudi‑led response could drive oil
prices higher.
