Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly urged U.S. President Donald Trump to order military strikes against Yemen’s Houthis as the group advanced toward the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait. According to a report citing two U.S. officials, the Saudi crown prince made two calls to Trump on Thursday as fighting in Yemen intensified.

Trump reportedly declined the request, while U.S. officials said Washington does not currently plan to directly attack Houthi forces. The United States is instead expected to increase support for Saudi Arabia, including providing intelligence on Houthi positions and targeting information.

The development comes as Houthi forces have expanded their presence along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, including the strategic port city of Mokha. Their advance has raised concerns over security around Bab al-Mandab, one of the world’s major maritime chokepoints connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the wider Indian Ocean.

A senior U.S. administration official said Washington remains focused on protecting its national security interests, including freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, while encouraging regional partners to take the lead in addressing security threats. U.S. Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper also reportedly traveled to Saudi Arabia for coordination meetings as tensions in the region continued to rise.