Bloomberg News has reported that the US is concerned about the opening of a new front amidst the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Bloomberg reported that the administration of US President Donald Trump—while refraining from direct participation in Saudi operations against Yemen’s Ansarullah—has warned Riyadh against deploying ground forces into Yemen while tensions with Iran remain high.
According to the report, the US has thus far provided Saudi Arabia with assistance regarding intelligence, reconnaissance, target identification, and aerial refueling, but has avoided conducting direct offensive strikes against Ansarullah.
This stance has prompted Saudi Arabia to seek other nations to join its military operations in Yemen in recent weeks; however, these efforts have yielded little success so far.
Two sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that the US has asked Saudi Arabia not to send ground troops into Yemen as long as the conflict with Iran persists and shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted.
Military operations by Saudi-backed government forces in Yemen began on Sunday, and clashes have intensified near the Bab al-Mandab Strait—a waterway that has gained increased importance for energy transit due to the disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz.
Bloomberg noted that the Trump administration fears direct US involvement in the Yemen war could open a new regional front and heighten the risk of a broader escalation of the conflict.
The report also highlights constraints on US military resources, adding that the naval blockade of Iranian ports has tied up a significant portion of US naval and air capabilities in the region. Concerns regarding the depletion of U.S. ammunition stockpiles constitute another factor making Washington cautious about directly entering the war in Yemen.
Citing its economic analysts, Bloomberg reported that the U.S. currently views the Yemen conflict primarily as "Saudi Arabia's problem," as Washington seeks to limit the war front with Iran and maintain its focus on the Strait of Hormuz.
Consequently, despite potential requests from Riyadh for increased support, it is unlikely that the U.S. will go beyond the assistance it currently provides to the Saudi-led coalition.
