Yemen

US President Donald Trump rejected a request from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for direct strikes on the Houthis, according to US officials. Washington instead plans to provide Riyadh with intelligence and targeting data while keeping US forces out of direct confrontation for now.

The Yemeni armed forces announced plans to target any Houthi military movements around Mocha and urged civilians to avoid the Taiz-Mocha road. The announcement coincided with the redeployment of government forces along the western coast, directives to reorganize them and establish an alternative command center, and movements and reinforcements on several fronts.

The European Union called on the Houthis to halt attacks inside Yemen, on Saudi Arabia and against commercial ships in the Red Sea, warning that they undermine regional security and peace efforts. It said recent attacks in the south of the kingdom injured 73 civilians, while UN envoy Hans Grundberg warned that the conflict could expand.